Yahoo Asks Court To Dismiss Jailed Chinese Reporter Case


Yahoo to Court: Dismiss Torture Case from the New York Times blog reports that Yahoo is requesting that the court dismiss the lawsuit brought by jailed Chinese reporter.

Chinese reporter Shi Tao was jailed and allegedly tortured by the Chinese government after Yahoo provided evidence against the reporter to the Chinese government. He then sued Yahoo over its involvement in the case and others.

Yahoo, in its filing, argued that this case “has no place in the American courts:”

This is a lawsuit by citizens of China imprisoned for using the Internet in China to express political views in violation of China law. It is a political case challenging the laws and actions of the Chinese government.

Yahoo added:

Yahoo deeply sympathizes with the plaintiffs and their families and does not condone the suppression of their rights and liberty by their government. But Yahoo has no control over the sovereign government of the People’s Republic of China (”PRC”), the laws it passes, and the manner in which it enforces its laws. Neither Yahoo Inc. or YHKL therefore, can be held liable for the independent acts of the PRC just because a former Yahoo subsidiary in China obeyed a lawful government request for the collection of evidence relevant to a pending investigation.

But when the New York Times asked Morton Sklar, executive director of the World Organization for Human Rights USA for their opinion, he said:

It is not the Chinese government that is the defendant here. It is Yahoo, for their part in this process. If not for Yahoo, there would have been no abuses. They gave the pieces of information that allowed China to take these actions.

The legal experts feel that Yahoo will ultimately win this case.

More news coverage on this topic can be found at News.com.



Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry's personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here.

See more articles by Barry Schwartz >


Share, Bookmark & Discuss This Article
More:


Keep Updated: News Via Email | News Via RSS Feed | News Via Twitter


See more stories like this in the Members Library! Check out the Legal: Privacy, Yahoo: Legal, Yahoo: Outside US sections of the Members Library where this story is filed. Members also get access to exclusive video content, a members-only weekly & monthly newsletter, plus more. Check out all the benefits!

ONE COMMENT ON Yahoo Asks Court To Dismiss Jailed Chinese Reporter Case

gary price,

If you have access to the PACER database, yesterday’s filings as well as many others are available via PACER.

Go to the Federal Court, Northern District, CA
https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl
https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cand/index.html
and login. The case # is:
4:2007cv02151

I have also posted a copy of the docket as of this morning here.
http://tinyurl.com/ypyu6f




RECENT COMMENTS

  • poiriem said " Excellent article, and yes it is a real problem - especially for agencies - managing budgets and KPI"
  • AdvertiseSpace said " Thank you for sharing, Google maps are very helpful in almost all categories of business. I am glad "
  • AdvertiseSpace said " I am a music person and I hope Google will make this all happen. This will serve as a big threat to "

See All »


FREE DAILY SEARCH NEWS RECAP!

Stay on top of all the search news with our daily summary, the SearchCap newsletter. View a sample ›

STAY CURRENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY

RSS Feeds

The Search Engine Land feed keeps you informed as news happens. SEE ALL FEEDS »

Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences

Advertise With Us »

Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.


SMX Web Site » | SMX Difference » | SMX News »


Join us at an upcoming SMX event:

Search Marketing Now Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include:


See more webcast topics »

TRACK US SOCIALLY
Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences

Get Your Search Engine Land
Premium Membership!

Become a premium member today and receive:

  • Express commenting privileges & photo.
  • Exclusive videos & newsletters.
  • Discounts to our SMX conferences.
  • Access to "How To" & Other Archives.

Learn More

Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences
Add to GoogleAdd to My Yahoo!Add to BloglinesAdd to NetvibesAdd to Windows Live