Key New Jersey Case to Decide If Journalist Protections Apply to Blogger

Key New Jersey Case to Decide If Journo Protections Apply to Blogger
Published: April 23, 2009 - E & P

A New Jersey judge is being asked to consider Thursday whether protections given to journalist should apply to people who post online.

Freehold-based software company Too Much Media wants Shellee Hale of Washington state to reveal her sources for message board posts she made claiming customer information was compromised last year.

The company provides software used by pornographic sites. It denied customer information was breached.

Hale argues she's protected by shield laws for journalists.

The company is also suing her for slander. Hale's lawyers say that only applies to the spoken, not written, word.

The judge will consider Hale's request to dismiss the suit.