Yahoo! Gets Backing in Nazi Memorabilia Case

The brief argues that U.S. courts may not enforce judgments of foreign courts that lack personal jurisdiction over U.S. defendants, because to do so would violate the due process clause of the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment. The brief follows another that the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) filed in April supporting Yahoo's position.

At issue is a French court ruling entered last year that states that Yahoo! broke French law by allowing the sale of Nazi memorabilia on its Web site to be accessed in France, and that orders Yahoo! to bar such sales.

If the French court's decision is recognized by U.S. courts, France would have the power to mandate that Yahoo! restrict French citizens from accessing, via its U.S.-based Web site, any material that French law deems illegal. The case is widely viewed as a landmark on the regulation of international, cross-border Internet transactions.

Big Threat

"The decision of the French court in this case represents one of the greatest threats to the promise of the Internet seen to date," the brief states. "Under the French court's theory of personal jurisdiction, every American company with an Internet presence would be subject to the personal jurisdiction of every foreign country in the world. Plainly put, such a result would cripple the Internet."

The industry groups signing the most recent brief include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Council for International Business, the Information Technology Association of America, the Online Publishers Association, the U.S. Information Industry Association, and the Commercial Internet eXchange.

According to the CDT, the next hearing in the Yahoo! case is scheduled for August 26th, while a hearing on Yahoo's motion for summary judgment is scheduled for September 24th.

The Target Question

One of the key points for the U.S. court to decide is whether Yahoo's conduct had or was intended to have a substantial effect in France.

"In this case, Yahoo!, Inc. does not operate in France," the brief says. "It operates a Web site based in the United States, targeted at U.S. citizens, in the English language. It has established a separate French subsidiary that operates a site from France, in French, targeted at French citizens, that complies with French law."

The brief also argues that France's exercise of prescriptive jurisdiction is unreasonable and the activities of Yahoo! are protected by the First Amendment.

"Clear recognition of the principle that, where a U.S. company is targeting online activities at U.S. citizens, the mere fact that the Internet is involved does not allow every other country in the world to assert jurisdiction over that company and regulate its activity, is absolutely critical," the brief said.

Still Fighting

Earlier in June, the U.S. district court decided not to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Yahoo! seeking a declaration that the French ruling against the Internet portal is an unenforceable order.

Other groups supporting the CDT's April brief on behalf of Yahoo! included the American Association of Publishers, the Freedom to Read Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Human Rights Watch, People for the American Way, and the Society of Professional Journalists.