Originally published Friday, July 3, 2009 at 8:57 AM

Judge: Blogger not covered by NJ press shield laws

Protections given to journalists in New Jersey do not apply to people who post online, a judge has ruled.

FREEHOLD, N.J. —

Protections given to journalists in New Jersey do not apply to people who post online, a judge has ruled.

Too Much Media, a Freehold-based firm, wants Shellee Hale of Washington state to reveal her sources for message board posts she made claiming its customer information was compromised last year. The firm, which provides software used by pornographic sites, denies customer information was breached.

Hale argued she's protected by shield laws for journalists.

However, Judge Louis Locascio rejected that late Thursday, saying her posts were nothing more than the rants of "private person with unexplained motives for her postings" and cannot be given the same protections as information compiled though the process of news gathering.

Hale's attorney, Jeffrey Pollock, said he was disappointed with the decision and will likely either appeal or ask the judge to reconsider the ruling.

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