ESTABLISHING RIGHTS ON THE INTERNET

A federal judge's ruling last month in favor of a Woodland High School student who was penalized by school officials for posting a vulgar Web home page on the Internet was important on two counts:

First, it protected the free-speech rights of someone who, in the privacy of his home, decides to take potshots at some of his teachers.

Second, it was the first court ruling in this murky area of Internet rights. This judge held that the Constitution applies even on the Web.

Most any parent would have punished a son or daughter for doing what this young man did. But the judge made it clear that government ought not to invade in such a situation.