French groups appeal in Yahoo Nazi case

Two French human rights organizations that successfully sued Yahoo in France over the sale of Nazi-related material on its auction site have appealed a U.S. District Court ruling that shielded the Web portal from enforcement of the French court decision. The League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) and The Union of Jewish Students (UEJF) filed an appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday. In their appeal, the organizations argue that the District Court didn't have jurisdiction over them because they had no presence in San Jose, Calif., and that there was no dispute between them and Yahoo because they had not filed to enforce the French court's decision, said Robert Katz, who represents the groups.

The appeal is only the latest action in the battle over Nazi- and hate-related material on Yahoo and other Web sites. Earlier this year, Yahoo banned the sale of such materials on its auctions and other sites. Last year, a French court ordered Yahoo to block French citizens from accessing Nazi-related and anti-Semitic material or face a fine of 100,000 francs (about $13,500) a day for not complying.