FC: U.S. court says Yahoo can thumb nose at wacky French laws

From: Declan McCullagh (declanat_private)
Date: Thu Nov 08 2001 - 07:01:24 PST

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    The history:
    
    "U.S. business groups back Yahoo in tussle with French court"
    http://www.politechbot.com/p-02390.html
    
    "Yahoo backs down, bans Nazi-memorabilia auctions"
    http://www.politechbot.com/p-01602.html
    
    "French judge still wants to ban Yahoo from selling WWII items"
    http://www.politechbot.com/p-01323.html
    
    ********
    
    Date: Thu,  8 Nov 2001 09:53:36 -0500
    Message-Id: <200111080953.AA861929784at_private>
    Mime-Version: 1.0
    Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
    From: " Scullyat_private" <Scullyat_private>
    To: <declanat_private>
    Subject: Yahoo Not Bound by French Nazi Ban
    
    http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011107/wr/tech_yahoo_nazi_dc_1.html
    
    Wednesday November 7 11:26 PM ET
    
    U.S. Judge Says Yahoo Not Bound by French Nazi Ban
    
    SUNNYVALE, Calif. (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge ruled Wednesday that 
    Yahoo Inc was not bound to comply with French laws governing Internet 
    content, a decision which could have broad implications for international 
    free speech rights in the Internet age.
    
    U.S. District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel, weighing in on an international 
    dispute over Yahoo auctions featuring Nazi memorabilia, said French court 
    orders barring such auctions on U.S.-based Web sites would not be enforced.
    
    ``We are extremely happy about this,'' said Mary Catherine Worth, senior 
    corporate counsel, International, for Yahoo, Inc.
    
    ``This has very broad implications for everyone, not only companies but 
    also for individuals who operate Web pages here in the United States,'' 
    Worth said.
    
    ``Judge Fogel's ruling holds that if you have a U.S.-based Web site, you 
    are subject to U.S. law and you are protected by the First Amendment. 
    Foreign court orders will not be enforced.''
    
    [...]
    
    
    
    
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