Following up on last week's news, a team of lawyers from Stanford Law School has signed on as legal counsel for the filmmakers behind Expelled, after the producers were sued by the John Lennon estate for copyright infringements stemming from what the litigants claim is the unauthorized use of the song "Imagine." The Stanford lawyers—all members of the Fair Use Project—said the use of the Lennon song is permissible when used for purposes of criticism and commentary. "The right to quote from copyrighted works in order to criticize them and discuss the views they may represent lies at the heart of the fair use doctrine," said Anthony Falzone, executive director of the Fair Use Project.

Mary Mary and Colgate-Palmolive have partnered for a special Mother's Day promotion running through May 13 that allows consumers to send their mothers a special e-card featuring a clip of "A Mother's Smile," a new track the duo recorded exclusively for the occasion. The first 50,000 fans to enter two UPC codes from participating products at the site can also download the full track for free. In other news, Mary Mary are putting the finishing touches to The Sound, the group's fifth Columbia album. The disc is expected to release in August.

Six fans of MercyMe will see the premiere of their own music video on May 9, as footage they took as part of a contest is edited into the music video for the band's new single, "You Reign." "It was a once in a lifetime event and I'm glad I was able to do it," said winner Joshua Francis, of St. Charles, Missouri. Watch for the video's premiere at this link or via the Gospel Music Channel on May 10.

Sandi Patty is all set for the May 13 release of her 30th album Songs for the Journey, a disc her label is describing as a combination of pop, gospel, Broadway, hymns, and inspirational all rolled into one. "The idea for this project came from watching my kids get older," said Patty, a mother of eight. "I recently began to wonder and hope about what things they will someday look back upon as being foundational in their lives." Produced by David Hamilton, Songs for the Journey includes "Panis Angelicus," a dramatic number performed as a duet with her husband Don Peslis.

Following last year's release of 777, Underoath will release Survive, Kaleidoscope, its first full-length concert DVD/CD combo. Available May 27, the audio portion will include nine songs from the band's gold-certified Define the Great Line, plus three songs from their breakthrough album, They're Only Chasing Safety. The band is already taking preorders for the bundle at the Audible Diversion Group, a new merchandising company started by band member Tim McTague and available through the Underoath website.

Jeremy Camp has taken to the web to keep fans updated about his upcoming, Brown Bannister-produced album, Speaking Louder than Before, scheduled for a November 8 bow. On the updated site, fans can read up on musings by Camp, his wife Adie, and other members of his team. In addition, a new blog with updates from the studio is set to debut this week.

In a special dinner held during GMA Week, ASCAP awarded newcomers Rush of Fools with Song of the Year honors for their radio hit "Undo," which became one of the most-played singles of 2007. Meanwhile, Jeremy Camp was named Songwriter of the Year—his third time receiving the title. Rush of Fools is currently in the studio working on their second album, Wonder of the World, which is expected to hit the streets on September 16.

© Andree Farias, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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