As we noted earlier today, several media outlets have filed a motion that would allow them to air the videotaped deposition of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs that was played for jurors in the ongoing iPod antitrust lawsuit. Now the Verge reports that Apple is fighting back against the motion, with the company’s lawyers accusing the media of wanting to see “a dead man.”
As Apple attorney Jonathan Sherman put it:
Because the deposition was not entered into evidence as an exhibit, Apple’s lawyers argue, the press does not necessarily need have access to it. Since court proceedings are not allowed to be recorded on video without permission from the judge, District Judge Yvonne Rogers has said that she does not think the deposition should be released at the time, but she will continue to consider both sides of the question.
The media outlets requesting access to the video will have until the end of the week to file further arguments in favor of allowing the video to be aired. Meanwhile, Apple’s lawyers are reviewing a new set of plaintiffs in the case after the previous group was disqualified at the beginning of the week.
