When Free Speech and Foreign IP Law Collide

segphault writes "Ars Technica has an interesting look at a recent intellectual property case where foreign copyright law conflicts with American freedom of speech rights. In this particular case, Sarl Louis Feraud International v. Viewfinder Inc., American enforcement of the French court's judgement on the basis of comity could establish a dangerous legal precedent that could lead to extensive censorship of the Internet. The article includes analysis of a relevant friend of the court brief filed by the EFF."

Comments

Re:Not about "free speech"

[Anonymous Coward]

>If I wish to discuss fashion designs the only real effective dialog to do so would be in pictures of the fashion designs

Picture =! Photo

You could make a pencil drawing of the subject and that is free, as in artistic impression. Similarly, in most US court houses you cannot make a photo or shoot video, therefore news agencies illustrate the events with color pencil drawings, like this: http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2006/LAW/03/24/moussaoui.an alysis/vert.zebley.ap.jpg

That court photo ban isn't considered a violation of the 1st amendment, so there is no problem with the french rationale in the case. It is just yankee arrogance against merry France, who do have fashion.

WTF?

[GuloGulo]

"And what about this ominous free speech all those americanos seem to be so hang up upon? Well, good riddance to that travesty of a human right."

What idiots modded THIS up?

What the hell is wrong with you people that you AGREE with garbage like this?