Apple loses bid to get Web site sources

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 27 (UPI) -- A California appeals court has refused to order two Apple computer fan Web sites to reveal their sources for information about company products.

Apple argued that the two sites, PowerPage and AppleInsider, are not legitimate news organizations protected by California's shield law for reporters, The Wall Street Journal reported. The judges overturned a lower court ruling that the sites misappropriated proprietary information on an Apple music-recording product with the code name Asteroid.

The two sites were backed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

"Today's decision is a victory for the rights of journalists, whether online or offline, and for the public at large," Kurt Opsahl, a lawyer for the foundation, said Friday.

A lawsuit against another Web site, ThinkSecret, is still pending.