Court Ponders Yahoo!’s Nazi-Item Sales

The continuing saga of Yahoo! and its legal problems regarding the sale of Nazi paraphernalia on Yahoo! in France continues on. I have followed this case since its inception and I can understand where Yahoo! is going with this. The nature of the Internet does render borders obsolete in many cases.

How can France, or any other country, dictate what a Web site in another country lists or says? How can Yahoo! be held liable or subject to fines by a foreign country for what it does here in the United States?

This case will affect all of us in one way or another. Unless the country that is trying to dictate what can be said or read erects a virtual electronic wall around all Internet access within its own borders, it is powerless to stop people from visiting the “offending” sites.

The Internet gives people unparalled freedom to thoughts and ideas that governments are powerless to stop. It is hoped that the judges in this case will recognize that and rule in favour of Yahoo!. Regardless of how they rule, however, I doubt this will be the end of this story. Stay tuned…