"It centres on a defamation case in which Australian mining magnate Joe Gutnick has taken action against the United States-based Dow Jones wire service for an article on a web site hosted by the Wall Street Journal.
The Victorian Supreme Court ruled that Mr Gutnick had the right to have the case decided in Melbourne, where Mr Gutnick claims his reputation was damaged.
But Dow Jones took the decision to the High Court, claiming the case should be heard in the US because the article was put on the internet in the US.
The dispute means the High Court will rule on whether material available on the internet is published in the country of origin, or the place where the information is viewed by people using the internet.
"It would provide unlimited liability for people who publish on the net, yet they could never know where material will be accessed," Internet Industry Association chief executive Mr Coroneos said.
"You won't know your liability, and therefore you can't protect against it."
He said the ruling would have an impact mostly on global companies, who could be sued in Australia for material placed on the internet overseas. "
News Service article
[Remembering it is different when something causes you 'financial damage', not just hurts your feelings.]
Where do general laws apply, at the sites origin or at the place it is available?
Niether or both?
Can you enforce the law either way?