Yahoo, Former CEO Face Charges in France

A French court said it would try Internet giant Yahoo and its former chief executive for allegedly condoning war crimes by allowing the sale of Nazi memorabilia on Yahoo sites.

Former Yahoo CEO Timothy Koogle faces a maximum sentence of five years and a $39,800 fine if found guilty--a verdict that could have broad implications for international free-speech rights in the Internet age.

France ordered the California-based company in November 2000 to stop people in France from accessing the sites, but a U.S. federal judge ruled last November that Yahoo was not bound to comply with French laws governing Internet content on U.S.-based sites.

Shares of Yahoo fell 7 cents to $14.93 on Nasdaq.