In a California state appeal court Justice Conrad Rushing ruled that online reporters and bloggers are considered no different and are entitled to the same protections as other journalists.
The ruling came in response to the case initiated by Apple Computer Inc.'s (AAPL) attempt to uncover sources that have leaked their product information on a number of Web sites.
Justice Conrad Rushing of the 6th District Court of Appeal wrote in a unanimous 69-page ruling that "In no relevant respect do they appear to differ from a reporter or editor for a traditional business-oriented periodical who solicits or otherwise comes into possession of confidential internal information about a company."
"We decline the implicit invitation to embroil ourselves in questions of what constitutes 'legitimate journalism, the shield law is intended to protect the gathering and dissemination of news, and that is what petitioners did here."
This is just the beginning of the recognition of bloggers as legitimate journalists. We already know it, the old media is getting its lesson and learning the hard way.
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