There’s no question that rumors present a quandry. Rumors can be very damaging to your reputation and your business.
But what if the rumor is positive? What if it’s creating buzz and anticipation around future product launches long before you’re prepared to talk about them. What if these rumors come from people who are truly committed to your company and your products?
Should you strong arm the offenders? Should you ignore it and secretly delight that people love your firm enough that they are willing to speculate about future revenue earners?
We’ve discussed Apple before and it’s clear that their approach is to crush the rumors and their sources.
To a certain extent I can understand that they are sensitive about the intellectual property around their designs. After all their innovative design has translated into improved sales and survival.
I think the news that Apple is suing a contractor who Apple say stole company trade secrets and posted them on the web is fair enough. They are running a business and they have the right to protect it.
However, hopefully they will take a more casual line with the Apple enthusiasts who share their rumors and ideas ahead of major Apple events. There is a difference between espionage and enthusiasm, I hope Apple will find the balance.
Murphy's Law 