As Sony Continues Threatening Reporters, NY Times Reporter Wins Pulitzer For Reporting On Sony's Emails

from the that's-called-reporting dept

Tue, Apr 21st 2015 1:36pm — Mike Masnick

We've been discussing Sony's ridiculous threat letters to members of the press (including us) with claims about how they should not read, share or report on the leaked Sony emails, hinting at how this violates all sorts of laws. As we've explained, that's a bunch of hogwash. While the original hacking almost certainly broke the law, reporting on what's in there after it's been leaked remains entirely legal. And, if you want even more support for why it's important, with the latest Pulitzer Prizes being awarded, it's notable that one of the winners for investigative journalism went to Eric Lipton of the NY Times for a series of stories that he's done exposing the influence of lobbyists -- and that includes Lipton's excellent reporting (with Nick Wingfield) using the leaked Sony emails to detail how the MPAA was trying to bring back SOPA via influencing various State Attorneys General.

That reporting has been tremendously important in exposing how the MPAA has sought to undermine the will of the public that was so outspoken concerning SOPA, but which had no way to speak out about what was happening behind closed doors because of those very doors. The fact that these emails have shone a bright light on questionable moves by the MPAA has also highlighted why we need more transparency on the policy making front and an end to backroom negotiations. That doesn't mean whoever released Sony's emails was necessarily right to do so, but those reporting on them absolutely have done incredibly valuable and important work. And, yes, it's legal to do so, contrary to Sony's silly threats.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: eric lipton, influence, lobbyists, pulitzer prize, sony emails, sony hack
Companies: ny times, sony

27 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Christenson, 21 Apr 2015 @ 1:56pm

Better Response to Sony's Demand
Guys:
The proper response to Sony's demand is to remind them that for every ridiculous threat letter, another article about it can be posted on Techdirt, with a snigger -- and they can therefore send all the letters they want!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mason Wheeler (profile), 21 Apr 2015 @ 2:02pm

that includes Lipton's excellent reporting (with Nick Wingfield) using the leaked Sony emails to detail how the MPAA was trying to bring back SOPA via influencing various State Attorneys General.

It's times like this I wonder why the Founding Fathers, with all their tremendous foresight and wisdom, never thought to put a "no means no" provision into the section on Congress's power to make laws.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Spaceman Spiff (profile), 21 Apr 2015 @ 2:06pm

Death rattle...
Is that the death rattle of the mighty thunder lizard that I hear? Will Sony be a subject of study by future paleontologists? Stay tuned to these Internet channels and find out!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
PRMan, 21 Apr 2015 @ 2:13pm

Seems like all-Sony day here on Techdirt
Seems only fitting, given that they sent you that nice letter.

Hey, Mike, maybe you can search the e-mails over on Wikileaks and find some other juicy stuff in there.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Baron von Robber, 21 Apr 2015 @ 2:20pm

Dear Sony,

""Never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel." - Mark Twain
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Groaker (profile), 21 Apr 2015 @ 2:33pm

Streisand effect
By now Sony should have learned that these empty threats only remind people that Sony's not exactly a white hat company. Their threats only serve to stimulate our memories of the Sony BMG rootkit scandal. I believe people should have gone to jail, as installing rootkits on other peoples computers is not exactly legal.

And of course not only removing Linux from the PS3, but also the way that Sony went about it. Never mind that Sony reputedly has a history of being hacked and rehacked, Apparently without the will to make an effort to uphold their responsibilities. Some 100,000,000 people are estimated to have personal data stolen from Sony.

Why does anybody buy from this company?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2015 @ 2:33pm

Don't buy their shit.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2015 @ 2:39pm

Re:
In this age, it's bytes by the terabyte.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2015 @ 3:20pm

Oh look, there's Mike Masnick shilling for Google again.

Hey Mike, everyone knows Google bankrolled the bogus SOPA protest, mkay? And it was like 4 years ago, so you can stop spiking the football anytime you want.

Is Google going to fly you to the EU to do some lying? In case it might lower their anti-trust fine? That's a long flight I bet. Anyway, see ya around, Pirate boy!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DB (profile), 21 Apr 2015 @ 3:27pm

I didn't know that "Google bankrolled the bogus SOPA protest".

I didn't want SOPA. None of my friends that knew about the issues wanted SOPA. It appeared that only a few big companies wanted it.

No element of the SOPA protest appeared to be bogus. It was genuine, wide-spread grass-roots concern. In stark contrast to the manufactured pro-SOPA lobbying.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2015 @ 3:28pm

Re: Streisand effect
I took the rootkit scandal as a license to torrent any and all Sony Music and Pictures for life. Thanks Sony!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
John Fenderson (profile), 21 Apr 2015 @ 3:30pm

Re: Re:
A terabyte isn't that much these days. Perhaps you should update this to exabytes.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2015 @ 3:32pm

Re:
Mike and the other Google stooges lied about SOPA. After the DNS part was pulled from the bill, they still insisted it would "break the internet" (yes, that's where that now-widely mocked piece of hyperbole originated).

Google profits from piracy as they sell ads on sites that promote piracy, either via adsense, or one of their other shell ad services. 97% of the billions Google makes comes from advertising, which is why they, and Masnick, hate artists and love piracy.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
John Fenderson (profile), 21 Apr 2015 @ 3:33pm

Re:
"I didn't know that "Google bankrolled the bogus SOPA protest""

That's because they didn't. Google did its best to ignore the SOPA issue, but eventually the popular uprising became too loud. Google only got on board relatively late in the game, once it was unmistakably clear which way the wind was blowing.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2015 @ 3:46pm

Re: Re:
LOL
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2015 @ 4:16pm

Re: Re:
Google may profit from piracy but that is only on sites that haven't received a DMCA takedown or have not been confirmed that it is copyrightable material. Also if they did make any money from those sites it would be miniscule in comparison to their main advertisers. If you have the magical program that knows instantly what is piracy and what isn't, you could make millions by selling it. Google would probably pay you a lot for it since they already have to deal quite a lot with DMCA issues and it would help eliminate a lot of expenses.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2015 @ 5:33pm

Re: Re:
You're the most unoriginal liar I've ever seen.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2015 @ 5:36pm

Re: Re:
Google is not responsible for piracy.

Piracy is not responsible for your financial problems.

Not only is your fixation on Google mentally unhealthy, it's completely misplaced, by multiple steps.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2015 @ 5:55pm

Re: Re: Re:
The fuck does all that have to do with Sony's emails, anyway?

Seriously, if you're going to take a shit on everything, at least do it in the right place instead of crapping everywhere like a mad dog.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
PaulT (profile), 22 Apr 2015 @ 12:08am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Typical M.O. - if he can't find a way to defend whatever indefensible action is being taken, he has to fall back on lies and personal attacks. Admitting fault on the part of one of his beloved **AA members is inconceivable, although he does actually seem to have taken the more logical approach of simply not commenting occasionally. Not here, alas, but the obvious lies and distortion are laughable.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 22 Apr 2015 @ 4:41am

I would love to see their emails now....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Just Another Anonymous Troll, 22 Apr 2015 @ 5:57am

Re:
Google certainly isn't getting their money's worth. Mike didn't even mention Google.
Also, SOPA sucked. Full stop. That's where the protest came from, not Google.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Pragmatic, 22 Apr 2015 @ 6:43am

Re:
I protested it, for free.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Gwiz (profile), 22 Apr 2015 @ 8:21am

Re: Re:
97% of the billions Google makes comes from advertising...

Terrestrial radio also makes double-digit billions from ad revenue. Do you hate them too? Just curious.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Google basher, 22 Apr 2015 @ 9:10am

Re: Re: Re: Google snipeing
"Google may profit from piracy"

Actual citation please.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Archillies, 22 Apr 2015 @ 9:15am

Re: I'd like to see their emails now
I heard the security situation has not improved much so it may happen, who knows? But knowing Sony they just stopped using email.

The NSA has the phone conversations and txt messages though....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
PaulT (profile), 23 Apr 2015 @ 3:09am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Google snipeing
He has no citation, it's a six degrees of separation kind of thing.

Google makes money from advertising. A small percentage of both advertisers and sites that host infringing material. A percentage of those ads make money. Therefore, Google's income is from piracy.

It won't get any more concrete than that, since it requires a creative interpretation of facts, not facts themselves. He's essentially saying that anyone who carries ads for second hand goods makes their money from stolen items, because a small percentage of them may well indeed have been stolen. Therefore, we should give Sony a free pass on everything they do, for some reason.
[ link to this | view in thread ]