I think you will find that maut is the most filtered poster on any thread (until he changes his name again of course)
This latest rumour is just a rehash of the previous rumour. The same fools are even making the same noises about the journo being a man of integrity etc. Heard it all in Oct/Nov at the time of the last piece in print. Nothing happened then either.
Ask yourself this: If Tad was due to pick up $2m in advance royalties with, one presumes, more to follow, why would they have raised more cash via the last Gem issue? It makes no sense and therefore I expect the rumour is unfounded. It will provide an opportunity for a few to make a bit. Whether they started the rumour is for conjecture