[DiogenesLamp]

What CBS does with the materials is a separate matter but what it does as employer is sacrosanct. The reporter was an employee of CBS so as a very practical matter the all work product, notes, and intellectual property are the sole property of CBS. They were fully within their rights to seize all work product, notes, and intellectual property created by their employee. I cannot believe anyone would suggest otherwise.

Sources? They were allowed to seize sources?

I have no personal experience with being a reporter, but all my life I had been told that a reporter's sources are confidential, and this confidentiality agreement between a reporter and a source was not expected to include the employer of the reporter.

Do you think the Washington Post knew who "deep throat" was?

Whether it be a legal line or not, this action certainly crosses an industry standard line regarding the confidentiality of sources.

[Reno89519]

Yes, if I recall history correctly, Washington Post knew. All of the work product belongs to the employer. If you were an employer you’d know this and be sensitive to this. The reporter is an employee, nothing more.