Updates: John Doe Lawsuit, Net Radio

Bruce H. Smith Jr., the popular high school teacher whose lessons and methods led to a lawsuit by Jane and John Doe that I railed against here, is reportedly planning to take the rest of the school year off.

Smith's leave taking apparently was his decision, not the school district's. He has not been in school since the lawsuit was filed.

More here.

Meanwhile, a bill has been introduced in Congress to roll back the actions of the U.S Copyright Royalty Board regarding Internet radio royalty fees that I railed against here.

The board's ruling could dramatically increase the cost of streaming music on the Internet. Even more ominous is that the proposed royalties by themselves greatly exceed the revenue that these listener-supporter public radio stations generate from their streams.

More here.