Users of the Internet benefit from the network's ability to free them from geographic limits on what they can see, do, and experience online. By its nature, the Internet enables new connections between people worldwide -- but it raises important questions in doing so. Governments of the offline world are struggling to deal with critical questions about the limits of their jurisdiction over the Internet, and the ability of any nation to regulate its citizens' activities on the Internet.
No single law defines what goes on on the Internet. Online activities that are socially acceptable and legally protected in one locale may not be in another, and each country's rules and norms are globally unique. Unilateral action by any single country could threaten the Internet's vitality and freedom.
Oral Arguments Heard in Free Speech Case - The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Thursday in an ongoing lawsuit by Yahoo to protect its U.S. web publications from liability under French content regulations. The case is a major test for free speech online, determining whether Internet publications that are lawful in the U.S. might still have to comply with the laws of any country in the world where they can be read. March 24, 2005
Share this articleAppeals Court Agrees to Reconsider Decision About French Censorship of U.S. Speech - The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has granted a petition filed by Yahoo! Inc. to reconsider an earlier decision restricting Yahoo's efforts to protect its lawful US publications from liability under French law. A French court had imposed fines on the U.S.-based Yahoo! for web site content that is lawful in the U.S. but illegal in France. A lower U.S. court held that enforcing the French fines would violate the U.S. First Amendment. An appeals court panel disagreed and held that Yahoo must wait to vindicate its rights. CDT and other industry and public interest organizations filed a "friend of the court" brief supporting Yahoo's petition to the court. February 10, 2005
Share this articleGroups File Brief in Support of Yahoo France Litigation - A diverse group of public interest and industry groups have filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of Yahoo's efforts to protect its lawful US publications from liability under French law. A lower court held that fines imposed on Yahoo by a French court - for content published in the US and protected by the First Amendment - could not be enforced in the US. An appeals court panel disagreed that Yahoo could get relief immediately, and held that Yahoo must wait to vindicate its rights. Yahoo is asking the entire appeals court to reconsider that decision. September 21, 2004
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