Web publications must reveal sources in Apple lawsuit

From Mercury News: A San Jose judge ruled that three online publications have to disclose the names of confidential sources that gave them information about Apple Computer?s upcoming products. Apple filed suits against the three Web sites back in December and early January, as reported by Mark Glaser, after they wrote about an unreleased Apple product. The judge ruled Thursday that the Web sites, Apple Insider, PowerPage and Think Secret, should not receive protection from revealing unidentified sources or undisclosed materials. This ruling suggests that online news organizations are not constitutionally protected in the same way as print and broadcast media. Apple argues that free speech protections in the state and federal constitutions do not extend to online journalists and only apply to "legitimate members of the press."