Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.

The article notes:

The iPod user manual already warns customers about the potential for permanent hearing loss if the player’s earphones or headphones are used a high volume. But the complaint alleged that Apple did not advise users about what constituted a high volume or a safe level of noise.

Well, yeah, but who reads the stupid manual, right? Not that we should have to - loud noises in your ear are not good for your ear, and this is something that nobody should have to tell you. It's no different than burning a leaf and sucking in the smoke. You are free to do so, but it should never enter your mind that your body is prepared to do this regularly and still function at its best.

An interesting observation from the Editorial Board at the Exponent (Purdue University's student newspaper):

The complaintant, however, does not even know if he has suffered any hearing loss because of the product.

Still, the Editorial Board thinks something needs to be done. Their suggestions?
- Apple should be more explicit in their warnings, in order to avoid future lawsuits.
- We should better educate children about the dangers of 100+ dB in our ears.

This is as ridiculous as the lawsuit. Apple should (but certainly won't) tell people where to get off with regard to the volume on the earphones. And children already learn about the dangers of loud noises - the problem isn't a lack of exposure to the facts. It's just that people don't care. It is in every textbook that touches on the science of sound, and even in some preschool books. We all know the real answer to these type of lawsuits. It is amazing that everybody seems to recognize this, and yet they keep coming. Each more ridiculous than the last. "My iPod was too loud, so I am suing." You can't make this stuff up.

As an afterthought, wouldn't it be grand to see Apple's defense boil down to "If it's too loud, you're too old"?