wired: Yahoo Faces Trial in France
A French court has ruled it will try Yahoo’s former president on charges of inciting racial hatred, after it failed to prevent the sale of Nazi memorabilia through its auction service. Last November a US court ruled Yahoo was not required to comply with French law.
Former President Timothy Koogle faces a maximum sentence of five years and a $39,800 fine if found guilty—a verdict that could have broad implications for international free speech rights in the Internet age.[...]
The court on Tuesday ruled French law still applied and said it would hear allegations Yahoo was inciting racial hatred by allowing French surfers to buy Nazi books, daggers, concentration camp uniforms and SS badges through its service.
It is illegal under French law to exhibit or sell objects with racist overtones and Yahoo’s French portal carries no Nazi auctions. But French surfers, like all others, can switch to Yahoo services with a click of the mouse.