ThinkSecret Cash Settlement?

MacRumors · Dec 24, 2007, 12:30 AM

The L.A. Times cites sources in-the-know that claim that ThinkSecret's Nick Ciarelli did indeed receive some amount of monetary compensation from Apple as part of their final settlement.

Quote:

[Ciarelli] also received a payment from Apple, according to a person familiar with the case. Both sides declined to discuss details of the agreement.

There has been a tremendous amount of speculation that this may have been the case, but no real confirmation.

ThinkSecret issued a statement late last week that they had reached an amicable settlement with Apple over an almost 3 year old lawsuit accusing ThinkSecret of illegally obtaining and disseminating Apple trade secrets.. The only details of the settlement revealed were that ThinkSecret would not reveal their sources, and would no longer be published. Later comments from Ciarelli's lawyer suggested that Apple settled to avoid potentially losing the case if it were pursued. Apple, however, has made no public comments settlement.

Article Link

MacNut · Dec 24, 2007, 12:32 AM

Does anyone know how much money? Stock options maybe.

zap2 · Dec 24, 2007, 12:37 AM

Duhhhh!!!

This is the only way that shutting the site down would have been a "win"

Interested in how much though...although I'd bet Apple made he promise not to tell(or he's lose the $$)

gugy · Dec 24, 2007, 12:42 AM

what's the big deal about this.
lack of any news is a bad thing.
Let's move on. TS was dead long time ago anyway. So it doesn't matter.

Update the damn MacPro at MWSF!

synth3tik · Dec 24, 2007, 12:46 AM

You know a confidentiality claus is tied to every single one of those dollars.

JPT · Dec 24, 2007, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugy

what's the big deal about this.
lack of any news is a bad thing.
Let's move on. TS was dead long time ago anyway. So it doesn't matter.

Update the damn MacPro at MWSF!

Nope sorry, the Mac Pro Update funds were given to Nick. So no updates for another year

DiamondMac · Dec 24, 2007, 12:49 AM

Not a shocker. This is how a high majority of cases like this get dealt with.

I don't blame the guy either though I can see a lot don't understand why he did it. Money talks and it is very easy for many to say they would/wouldn't do something when the actual money isn't there

ventro · Dec 24, 2007, 12:57 AM

I'm guessing around $1M. We might be able to find out when Apple posts their financials and we can dig through their expenditures.

4God · Dec 24, 2007, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugy

what's the big deal about this.
lack of any news is a bad thing.
Let's move on. TS was dead long time ago anyway. So it doesn't matter.

Update the damn MacPro at MWSF!

I'm actually a little indifferent about the whole ThinkSecret thing, but wouldn't it be a great Christmas present to have MacPros released on Tuesday the 25th?

notjustjay · Dec 24, 2007, 01:15 AM

Let the man have his space. If he got money, good for him. If not, oh well.

Slow news day? Really, I think this one's been laid to rest already.

33scottie33 · Dec 24, 2007, 01:22 AM

Maybe he just settled for a new UP MacBook Pro!

twoodcc · Dec 24, 2007, 01:30 AM

i'm sure he did receive money.

andy721 · Dec 24, 2007, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4God

I'm actually a little indifferent about the whole ThinkSecret thing, but wouldn't it be a great Christmas present to have MacPros released on Tuesday the 25th?

Im with you on this one, I been wanting a new comp but god for bid if steve doesn't release the macpro before christmas has to be in jan 2000 of 8 which sucks because that means I have to wait.

F**K!

JNB · Dec 24, 2007, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ventro

I'm guessing around $1M. We might be able to find out when Apple posts their financials and we can dig through their expenditures.

You've never read the annual, have you?

sord · Dec 24, 2007, 01:56 AM

<sarcasm>Oh well, no one needs TS, we all know there will be new Powerbook G5s on Tuesday (Christmas day)!</sarcasm> (which would be so absurd if it actually happened, I can't even fathom the reactions

we'll miss ya TS!

timdorr · Dec 24, 2007, 01:58 AM

A rumor about a rumor site. The mind boggles!

Sayer · Dec 24, 2007, 02:10 AM

I would imagine Apple merely paid some "fair" amount of future earnings Nick would have received had he kept his web site in operation.

I am mystified why Apple would choose to settle when Nick wasn't accused of merely publishing "trade secrets" someone gave him, he was charged with coercing someone at Apple to violate their NDA/employment contract and give all manner of info to Nick to publish on his website.

Nick always seemed to get "hooked up" with the latest seeds of OS X and other apps, and some hardware info, so someone in the range of middle-management must have gotten a thrill in spilling the beans for so long and never getting caught.

The real winner in all this mess is the leaker(s) at Apple that was, apparently, never found out.

jwkicks · Dec 24, 2007, 02:11 AM

I'm sure tight non-disclosure statements were signed. We'll probably never find out.

MacFly123 · 03:41 AM

WHOOOOOOOO CAAAAAAAARES!!!!!!!!!! No **** he got money! Duh! Now for some REAL news please!!!!!!!

GoodWatch · Dec 24, 2007, 03:41 AM

I care. Even Apple are using the tactics that belong to major corporations now. Pay shut-up money if someone gets to big of a pain in the, ehhh, behind.

mad jew · Dec 24, 2007, 03:42 AM

...But Apple is a major corporation.

GoodWatch · Dec 24, 2007, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad jew

...But Apple is a major corporation.

You've got that right! That's exactly my point. Think Different? I think not

Stridder44 · Dec 24, 2007, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodWatch

You've got that right! That's exactly my point. Think Different? I think not

If they guy didn't wanna do it he wouldn't have taken the money. Just because a apple rumors site went down doesn't mean apple rumors is ending as we know it. Torrent sites go down all the time, and new ones start up the same day.

There are a lot of people out there that are interested in apple rumors. The "leaked info from someone close to apple" isn't gonna disappear anytime soon.

GoodWatch · Dec 24, 2007, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stridder44

If they guy didn't wanna do it he wouldn't have taken the money.

Do you want a million dollar?

xappeal · Dec 24, 2007, 04:39 AM

Funny, I bet Apple are happy that all their money is linked to the guy from Think Secret actually keeping a secret!

Sweet payback... It'd be killing him if he wasn't swimming in a pool of $100 notes...

Dec 24, 2007, 12:32 AM	#2
MacNut macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Connecticut	Does anyone know how much money? Stock options maybe. __________________ New York Yankees 2009 World Series Champions!!!! #27

Dec 24, 2007, 12:37 AM	#3
zap2 macrumors 601 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ	Duhhhh!!! This is the only way that shutting the site down would have been a "win" Interested in how much though...although I'd bet Apple made he promise not to tell(or he's lose the $$) __________________ "We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by." Will Rogers

Dec 24, 2007, 12:42 AM	#4
gugy macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: La Jolla, CA	what's the big deal about this. lack of any news is a bad thing. Let's move on. TS was dead long time ago anyway. So it doesn't matter. Update the damn MacPro at MWSF! __________________ MacPro 2.8 Octo, 30" and 23" Cinema Displays, PB 550,MacBook Pro 2.2, iPod 1G, Shuffle 2G, iPhone 3G

Dec 24, 2007, 12:46 AM	#5
synth3tik macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN	You know a confidentiality claus is tied to every single one of those dollars. __________________ Come check out my music! http://www.batteriesarentfood.com http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/BatteriesarentFood

Dec 24, 2007, 12:49 AM	#7
DiamondMac macrumors 68020 Join Date: Aug 2006	Not a shocker. This is how a high majority of cases like this get dealt with. I don't blame the guy either though I can see a lot don't understand why he did it. Money talks and it is very easy for many to say they would/wouldn't do something when the actual money isn't there __________________ 16-Gig 3G-iPhone, 40-Gig IPod, 60-Gig MacBookPro, 2GHz Intel Core Duo, 2 GB - 667MHz RAM, 200-Gig iMac, 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB 667 MHz

Dec 24, 2007, 12:57 AM	#8
ventro macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2006	I'm guessing around $1M. We might be able to find out when Apple posts their financials and we can dig through their expenditures.

Dec 24, 2007, 01:15 AM	#10
notjustjay macrumors 68030 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Canada, eh?	Let the man have his space. If he got money, good for him. If not, oh well. Slow news day? Really, I think this one's been laid to rest already. __________________ MRoogle

Dec 24, 2007, 01:22 AM	#11
33scottie33 macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arlington, VA	Maybe he just settled for a new UP MacBook Pro! __________________ 15” MBP 3.06 GHz C2D, 8GB, SSD w/24" LED CD 20" iMac \| BB Tour

Dec 24, 2007, 01:30 AM	#12
twoodcc macrumors 603 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Right side of wrong	i'm sure he did receive money. __________________ tville pump Smarter than the average bear

Dec 24, 2007, 01:56 AM	#15
sord macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2004	<sarcasm>Oh well, no one needs TS, we all know there will be new Powerbook G5s on Tuesday (Christmas day)!</sarcasm> (which would be so absurd if it actually happened, I can't even fathom the reactions we'll miss ya TS! __________________ 12" iBook 1GHz 768MB RAM 60GB HD Airport Extreme [sold and missed] 17" iMac G5 1.6GHz 768MB RAM 160GB HD [sold] PowerMac Quad 2.5GHz G5 2.5GB RAM

Dec 24, 2007, 01:58 AM	#16
timdorr macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2002	A rumor about a rumor site. The mind boggles!

Dec 24, 2007, 02:10 AM	#17
Sayer macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Austin, TX	I would imagine Apple merely paid some "fair" amount of future earnings Nick would have received had he kept his web site in operation. I am mystified why Apple would choose to settle when Nick wasn't accused of merely publishing "trade secrets" someone gave him, he was charged with coercing someone at Apple to violate their NDA/employment contract and give all manner of info to Nick to publish on his website. Nick always seemed to get "hooked up" with the latest seeds of OS X and other apps, and some hardware info, so someone in the range of middle-management must have gotten a thrill in spilling the beans for so long and never getting caught. The real winner in all this mess is the leaker(s) at Apple that was, apparently, never found out. __________________ Obama Joker = RACIST :: Bush Joker = Political Commentary Obama Bows to world leaders that violate 200+ years of protocol: 2

Dec 24, 2007, 02:11 AM	#18
jwkicks macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2007	I'm sure tight non-disclosure statements were signed. We'll probably never find out. __________________ 15" MacBook Pro 2.2 Glossy Mac Mini 1.83 C2D 23" Apple Cinema Display iBook 12" 1.33 (for sale) iPhone 8GB iPod 1st Gen. 10GB (for sale)

Dec 24, 2007, 02:58 AM	#19
MacFly123 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Dec 2006	WHOOOOOOOO CAAAAAAAARES!!!!!!!!!! No **** he got money! Duh! Now for some REAL news please!!!!!!! __________________ - Steve Jobs' best friend! Last edited by mad jew : Dec 24, 2007 at 03:41 AM. Reason: Please do not contravene the language censor.

Dec 24, 2007, 03:41 AM	#20
GoodWatch macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands	I care. Even Apple are using the tactics that belong to major corporations now. Pay shut-up money if someone gets to big of a pain in the, ehhh, behind. __________________ Too late, my time has come Sends shivers down my spine Body's aching all the time Goodbye everybody - I've got to go

Dec 24, 2007, 03:42 AM	#21
mad jew Demi-God (Moderator emeritus) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Adelaide, Australia	...But Apple is a major corporation. __________________ Some things are better mad...

Dec 24, 2007, 04:39 AM	#25
xappeal macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Brisbane - Australia	Funny, I bet Apple are happy that all their money is linked to the guy from Think Secret actually keeping a secret! Sweet payback... It'd be killing him if he wasn't swimming in a pool of $100 notes... __________________ Teachers, parents and interested parties: I'm creating a social network of teachers, join me: The NXT Classroom

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