Apple Sues Think Secret

[MacRumors]

CNET News reports that Apple is suing rumor site Think Secret for posting Apple trade secrets and for encouraging and inducing persons to provide product information in breach of agreements. Previously, Apple had named ThinkSecret.com, along with AppleInsider.com and PowerPage.org, in subpoenas while tracking down leaks of information about Asteroid.

The court filings list particular Think Secret articles, including the headless iMac and iLife '05 stories, without identifying which reported details are true.

"Apple has filed a civil complaint against the owner of ThinkSecret.com and unnamed individuals who we believe stole Apple's trade secrets," Apple said in its statement. "We believe that Think Secret solicited information about unreleased Apple products from these individuals, who violated their confidentiality agreements with Apple by providing details that were later posted on the Internet."

In the suit, Apple outlines the damage that leaks cause, noting that disclosures give competitors a head start and hurt the buzz created around its products. "Unauthorized disclosures diminish the interest of both the mainstream and trade media in the launch of a new product," Apple said.

Previous related stories: Apple Sues Over Leak, Apple Sues Tiger Leaks, $499 Headless iMac?, iWork '05 Productivity Suite?

[edesignuk]

Holy ****! That's unbelievable!

[Lord Blackadder]

Damn, look out MR, here come the lawyers!

[Little Endian]

Oh well I hope Macrumors is safe

[munkle]

Wow! Scary stuff, lets hope they don't start coming after MacRumors!

[ojames]

Apple is into the holiday spirit, eh? Seems they can't control their own employees and contractors, so they figure... "Hell, lets sue and sobeana the publishers of sites most dedicated to spreading the Apple cheer."

Bah Humbug

[machan]

any chance this is all just another part of the pre-announcement circus, designed to whip all the rumor junkies into a frenzy so that we tell everyone we know about stuff that may be coming out in a week, thus providing apple with a larger audience of interest?

[Lord Blackadder]

This could really affect the quality and number of rumors we see around here anymore, especially if Steve catches the Apple people who are talking to Think Secret.

I guess I'm not super surprised, though.

[LaMerVipere]

I guess Apple wants to kill all Rumour sites, eh?

Not fair. They help generate excitement for Apple's products. You'd think Apple would love them, or at least find a way to use them to their advantage. This "sue them to death" crap isn't going to work. We're living in the information age, you can't keep anything under wraps anymore.

[mcmav37]

Regardless of what you think about the ethics of these lawsuits, do you think their simple existence lends credence to the topics of these rumors?

Why would Apple sue over release of information about non-existent products? Unless those products won't be coming out as planned. I hope we don't have to wait to hear about miniMac.

[Dont Hurt Me]

They should stop paying those high price lawyers and start printing a roadmap of products so the consumer can make a logical decision instead of the mystery game they play. Think secret is a direct reflection upon Apples own policies of not telling anyone anything. Glad i canceled that Powermac that was overdue for more then a month and went elsewhere. Hope Think Secret wins but you know who has the money in the bank and when it comes to lawsuites the biggest dollar usually wins doesnt it. Apple sues everyone and i think its tastless bullying tactics that you Mac Zealots should be aware of. Maybe we should email Apple and let them know its their own fault for playing spy vs spy.

[solvs]

Guess something was true. Cool, looking forward to next week (hope we aren't disappointed).

For all those complaining, yes we love rumors, but it does kinda spoil the surprise doesn't it. Especially if it turns out to be a little less than we expect and costs a little more (iPod mini, anyone?). Plus, the last guy they sued, you know what his punishment was?

He had to say sorry and promise he'll never do it again. I doubt Apple is looking for money, they just want to scare them. But you gotta admit, it's darn good publicity.

[KyleC]

this is rediculous...i really think they went overboard on this one.

Rumors is what I live on, we cant have them cut off!!!

[rdowns]

Originally Posted by Little Endian

Oh well I hope Macrumors is safe

MR hasn't reported any rumor in quite some time, they have credited their stories to AI, TS and others.

[desdomg]

About time too - ThinkSecret has gone way beyond rumours over the past few weeks and deserves to be sued. I would imagine they will dissapear pretty soon as the legal costs alone would be enought to bankrupt them I would imagine ...

[~Shard~]

Obviously something ThinkSecret said got their attention!

Kinda funny, lots of people have been complaining about MacRumors lately that they don't dig up enough of their own rumors anymore, and just report on other site's rumors - however in doing so, MR might be availing itself of any legal action - who's clever now?

[fatbarstard]

Suddenly Apple is stepping up its legal threats against the 'rumour community'... could this be Apple's year of the lawsuit??

Rumours are a vital part of any product launch to create awareness that something 'big' is coming and deliver s bigger audience to the launch... it also helps save the company $$ becuase it doesn't have to advertise the fact that something 'big' is coming.... Maybe the lawyers have taken over at Apple

Anyway it seems that the company has lost its sense of humour

[Thirteenva]

I doubt they'll come after macrumors. Seems MR's sources dried up a long time ago. Now they just post links to appleinsider articles.

[ericmooreart]

The legal action proves the rumors were true. I think the suit is a ploy to hype the new products. Why sue when they usualy deny everything. As proven in ages past people love drama and they'll get sucked in, giving the new products free publicity.

[Awimoway]

To be honest, I'm surprised it has taken Apple this long. TS has been a thorn in their side for years. They pretty much ruined all of this year's MWSF surpises, A-Zed.

I expect Apple means to bury TS completely, wipe it from the map with costly, punishing litigation. Sad, but not surprising.

[Doctor Q]

My personal opinion:

MacRumors is not at risk. MacRumors reports stories submitted to it and does not encourage anyone to break laws. That applies to non-disclosure agreements as well as other areas such as software pirating.

[ghutchis]

I was actually just talking with a friend about how the rumors were flying fast and furious before MacWorld Expo. And we both commented that we wouldn't be surprised if Apple Legal soon became involved.

What really surprised me about the leaks/rumors was the timing--in past years, there hasn't been much information until maybe a day or two before the expo. Now suddenly, we're hearing about things more than a week in advance.

Hope it comes out OK in the end...

[Brother Michael]

I was wondering when this was going to happen.

Mike

[wordmunger]

I wonder if TS will even be able to muster enough money to defend itself. That may be part of Apple's strategy: to make the lawsuit so expensive that TS has no option but to settle.

That said, I'm not sure it's really legit to sue someone for encouraging someone else to violate a nondisclosure agreement. That's like suing the casino because someone picked your pocket to get gambling money.

[BakedBeans]

im not 100% sure they are doing the right thing in trying to stop this type of site,

there are 100s of thousands that access and use these sites, it gets people...... "apple hyped"

maybe its not the right thing, as for MR getting in trouble i cant see it happening because there rumours are very very carfully put up here, normally quoting thinksecret! good move MR