Judge says Nazi-related items can be sold on Yahoo.

Byline: Mary Anne Ostrom

SAN JOSE, Calif. _ In a decision protecting Internet free speech rights, a San Jose federal judge ruled Wednesday that U.S.-based Web sites operated by Yahoo are not subject to French laws banning the sale of Nazi-related items.

The closely watched case is one of the first U.S. tests of what, if any, enforcement powers foreign countries may exercise over content on U.S.-based Web sites that can be accessed globally.

U.S. District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel found Yahoo is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Underscoring the "novel and important issues arising from the global reach of the …