Ford Wins Order to Shut Web Site Over Trade Secrets

Ford Motor Co. won a temporary restraining order on Wednesday that shuts down a Web site that the auto maker said was revealing classified company information.

The world’s No. 2 auto maker filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Detroit against Robert Lane of Dearborn, Mich., and Warner Robert Publications, accusing them of copyright and trademark infringement. On the site, Lane called the lawsuit another example of a large company trying to silence critics without regard to free speech.

“Naturally it’s a case of a big corporation stepping on the toes of middle-class America and the freedom of the press--the whole constitution without regard,” Lane said.

“Ford can sue me for money--that really means nothing to a humble man like myself--but I’ll be damned if Ford or any corporation is going to try and subvert the Constitution,” he added.

Ford spokesman Jim Cain said the company has no problem with Lane’s Web site (https://www.blueovalnews.com) writing about the auto maker, but that it does object to Lane’s posting internal company documents and offering to sell them.

Lane, who has not worked for Ford, has posted mostly product-related documents obtained from unknown employees, Cain said. Ford wants the site shut down permanently and seeks unspecified damages from Lane.

“He’s been damaging Ford’s business by revealing trade secrets,” Cain said. “What’s really unconscionable is the fact that he’s soliciting Ford employees to leak documents and put their jobs on the line.”