ThinkSecret Unmasked!

The author of the popular website ThinkSecret has been unmasked by the Harvard Crimson after Apple began proceedings to sue him over early leaks of the unannounced Mac Mini and iPod Shuffle.

A Web site that disclosed Apple's top-secret plans to bring out a $499 mini computer and a new bare-bones iPod -- prompting a lawsuit from the company -- turns out to be the brainchild of a 19-year-old Harvard University student...Nicholas M. Ciarelli, who says he had been "an enthusiastic fan" of Apple for years, said Friday hopes to find free or low-cost legal help to defend the suit, arguing that he deserves First Amendment protection...Ciarelli has been editing and publishing the site under the pen name "Nick dePlume" since age 13. The site, which accepts advertising, is popular with enthusiasts of the company's products and industry analysts.

Well, now we have a face to go with the pen name. Let's hope there are lawyers out there willing to take on his case. This appears to be a simple case of bullying by a powerful company against an annoyance. It is too bad Apple can't see past their own anger to realize that the free publicity generated by rumor sites almost always does the company more good than evil.