In Friday's judgement, Gomez also refused to level any fines until more technical information is available.
French law prohibits the sale or exhibit of objects with racist overtones.
Whatever the outcome of the technical arguments, the case has major implications for Internet freedom and democratic rights. The initial question raised in the French case is that of the responsibility of the provider for the content carried upon a server. In contrast, recent cases in the US have upheld the notion that the ISP is not liable for the content held on a server. Of equal significance is the attempt of the French courts to establish their jurisdiction over a US web site. The case establishes dangerous precedents that undermine the international character of the Internet and seriously diminish its democratic content as a medium.