Mark Glaser, of USC Annenberg's Online Journalism Review has a nice column up today about Apple's attempt to use the courts to silence so-called "insider" leaks on Web sites. Apple has always been hyper-protective of future product information and now they're carrying the campaign onto the Web. They've already sued ThinkSecret.com and now they're threatening two more sites. Glaser reports that pro bono legal help is coming to the defense of these online journalists.

This is an exceptionally bad move and everyone but Apple seems able to see it. Negative publicity and ridicule in Forbes and The Wall Street Journal can't be making anyone happy. Glaser correctly notes that Apple seems to have stolen a page from the RIAA's playbook: sue your customers, alienate the people who might be in a position to help you. Can someone please stop giving Jobs the stupid pills?