When Martha Stewart had to go to jail for insider trading, I thought that it was wrong. Granted, she "broke the law" - and I believe that law should be changed. Now it's all over the news that Mark Cuban has been charged with the same crime.

So what?

What's the big deal with insider trading?

If you're unfamiliar with the term, here is the definition offered by the U.S. Securities and Commission:

Illegal insider trading refers generally to buying or selling a security, in breach of a fiduciary duty or other relationship of trust and confidence, while in possession of material, nonpublic information about the security. Insider trading violations may also include "tipping" such information, securities trading by the person "tipped," and securities trading by those who misappropriate such information.

Ok, so yes, it may be unfair to use disclosed information to your advantage before the public knows about it, but isn't it just as unfair to tell someone of your plans (as Momma.com did to Mark Cuban) and then you can't do anything about it? All you can do is watch as you lose $750,000?

On the other side of the coin, Mark Cuban is a billionaire - an entrepreneur who is very skilled at making money. I'm sure he could easily make up the money he lost if he had stayed with Momma.com. Besides, if he really and truly supported or believed in that company, he would have stuck around.

Here are Cuban's non-thoughts about the SEC posted on his blog today...

I also found his Homes vs. Stocks post to be of interest as well...

Any thoughts?