Wal-Mart has sent legal notices to websites who leak prices or flyers about the Black Friday sales.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has threatened legal action against Web sites that leak prices for or flyers about its post-Thanksgiving sales in advance, a practice at dozens of large and small Web sites that collect information on deals.

Retail chains typically start advertising in newspapers and elsewhere a few days before Thanksgiving with special deals for Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Premature release can give competitors a jump up on the prices and dampen marketing campaigns.

This year for the first time, Wal-Mart has sent legal notices to at least three sites that have obtained Black Friday ads in advance and posted them days or weeks ahead. The letters cite the company's rights under trade-secret and copyright laws. Typically, retailers wait until information has been posted to take action.

This will surely take away fun searching for Wal-Mart offers and one will have to do with rumors this time.