Bloggers File Appeal Over Published Secrets on Apple

Three Web bloggers who published secrets about Apple Computer Inc. filed an appeal Tuesday, as expected, arguing that a judge’s ruling requiring them to reveal their sources violated the 1st Amendment.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge James Kleinberg ruled March 11 that the three online reporters would have to provide the identities of their confidential sources.

Kleinberg said that the bloggers weren’t protected by “shield laws” that usually protect journalists, referring to the news they published as “stolen property.”

In December, Apple sued 25 unnamed individuals, called “Does” and believed to be Apple employees, who leaked specifications about a product code-named “Asteroid” to Monish Bhatia, Jason O’Grady and another person who writes under the pseudonym Kasper Jade.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company said the leaks and the published documents violated nondisclosure agreements and California’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act.

Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said the company had no comment on the appeal.