Apple stops hunting for employees who leaked inside information

iPod makers Apple Computers seems to have stopped their high profile search for inside employees who leaked information to media groups regarding upcoming product launches.

The company seems to be decided to ignore the deadline to continue a legal battle to find out who leaked the information to independent online journalists. Apple added in a press statement that they would not take the battle against these websites to the California Supreme Court.

Apple Computers suffered a major setback in this case when a state appeals court rejected Apple’s attempt to send a subpoena to obtain records and archived email from the operators of PowerPage.org and AppleInsider.com.

The three-judge panel declined to accept the Apple’s charges that independent media reporters cannot be given the same privileges given to true reporters working for newspapers and television channels. Apple’s decision to not content this judgment might result in more powers for these independent reporters in future lawsuits as this would now act as a precedent.