Suit: Blogger posted Target trade secrets
No, not me.
A few months ago, the latest version of Target’s “Assets Protection Directives for 2006″ found it’s way onto several websites and forums. It is still up on one anonymous Blogspot page. The posting of this confidential information caused a bit of a stir within the industry, as the timing of this was shortly after Wal-Mart made news by loosening their shoplifting policy.
Now, Target is fighting back by trying to track down the anonymous poster/blogger:
The Minneapolis-based company is suing the unidentified “John Doe,” who is believed to live in Georgia, in federal court for posting Target’s anti-theft procedures on Web sites and various retail-employee forums on the Internet in July.
The information is used to secure Target’s merchandise from shoplifters and other wrongdoers. Target says in a court filing it is provided to employees on a “need-to-know” basis.
To find out who “John Doe” is, Target is seeking the help of AOL, Yahoo! Inc. and Microsoft Corp. It’s unclear whether these companies will comply, though.
More from MSNBC (see: Suit: Blogger posted Target trade secrets).
This case will be one to watch as there is precendent upholding the right to anonymous blogging. However, this case involves the posting of company-protected trade secrets. This case will be watched closely by many as it will have potential ramifications throughout the blogosphere in regards to the right to anonymity, free speech, and exactly how far that goes.
More discussion at targetunion.org.
