Former Yahoo CEO not liable for French Nazi auctions News
Former Yahoo CEO not liable for French Nazi auctions

[JURIST] A French appeals court Wednesday upheld a lower court decision absolving former Yahoo! [corporate website] CEO Tim Koogle of criminal responsibility for auctions of Nazi paraphernalia held through Yahoo's website. Yahoo was found liable in 2000 for allowing Nazi collectibles to be sold on its auction pages in violation of a French law barring the display or sale of racist materials. Koogle subsequently faced criminal charges [AFP report] for "justifying a crime against humanity" and the "exhibition of a uniform, insignia or emblem of a person guilty of crimes against humanity." Koogle was acquitted in 2003 and that decision was upheld Wednesday. The French litigation over the auctions has prompted Yahoo to seek protection against international liability [JURIST report] from US courts. Late last month, Yahoo asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to prevent the collection of the fine imposed in the 2000 decision, which now totals over $15 million. AP has more. From France, Liberation has local coverage.