QUOTE
On January 7, Microsoft enthusiast Dave Ciccone woke up to find a surprising message in his e-mail inbox: a veiled threat from the company he has evangelized for almost 5 years.
"Microsoft has received information that the domain listed above, which appears to be on servers under your control, is offering unlicensed copies of, or is engaged in other unauthorized activities relating to copyrighted computer programs published by Microsoft," the legal letter said.
"We hereby give notice of these activities to you and request that you take expeditious action to remove or disable access to the material described above, and thereby prevent the illegal reproduction and distribution of this software via your company's network."
Ciccone runs Dave's iPaq, a popular Windows mobile technology site that has been in operation since 2000. According to Ciccone, he has "done nothing but promote Microsoft's products at my own financial expense." What caught Microsoft's attention, however, was a posting with information on Windows Mobile 2005, the upcoming version of Windows for handheld devices.
Dave's iPaq was not the only site to carry the insider information, which included screenshots of the new Windows Mobile software. The details were originally reported by Windows enthusiast site Neowin, which then in turn was picked up by technology blog Engadget and finally Ciccone's site.
"Microsoft has received information that the domain listed above, which appears to be on servers under your control, is offering unlicensed copies of, or is engaged in other unauthorized activities relating to copyrighted computer programs published by Microsoft," the legal letter said.
"We hereby give notice of these activities to you and request that you take expeditious action to remove or disable access to the material described above, and thereby prevent the illegal reproduction and distribution of this software via your company's network."
Ciccone runs Dave's iPaq, a popular Windows mobile technology site that has been in operation since 2000. According to Ciccone, he has "done nothing but promote Microsoft's products at my own financial expense." What caught Microsoft's attention, however, was a posting with information on Windows Mobile 2005, the upcoming version of Windows for handheld devices.
Dave's iPaq was not the only site to carry the insider information, which included screenshots of the new Windows Mobile software. The details were originally reported by Windows enthusiast site Neowin, which then in turn was picked up by technology blog Engadget and finally Ciccone's site.
QUOTE
The Apple case could have far reaching consequences for the Windows enthusiast community as well. In a recent interview with Microsoft Watch, Neowin's Tom Warren said, "I'd expect Microsoft is looking closely at the current case with Apple and Think Secret. If Think Secret does lose the case, this could mean bad news for Neowin and blogging, in general."
Site: BetaNews
I would hate to see the day when a Judge slaps the First Amendment!
