In light of the events in France, develop an action plan for Yahoo! Inc./Yahoo! France. What is Yahoo’s
best strategy at the aftermath of the French court decisions, and in light of public reaction to the case
in France and the U.S.? Convene a team of “experts”, including, but not limited to U.S. and French
legal counsel, IT specialists, staff from Yahoo’s communications, advertising, and finance
departments. Your plan should not be limited to reactive measures prompted by the uproar in France
but it should include proactive measures in order to avoid negative consequences in the U.S., provide
guidance on how to deal with/avoid similar situations (elsewhere) in the future, and – if at all possible
– a positive “rebound” from the debacle in France.
Questions
– Legal: How should Yahoo react to the French court’s decisions? Implement, fight – if yes where? Why was it even possible for the French court to decide? What are the consequences for Yahoo France and Yahoo Inc.? Is – or at some point was – there room for an amicable solution?
– What’s Yahoo’s position on Internet regulation, how should you communicate externally and internally about it, and what efforts should you initiate/join in this respect?
– What’s the company’s stance regarding sale of Nazi or other controversial items on their site? What guides your decisions in this respect?
– Are you, and if yes, what are you going to change regarding your auction websites in France and globally?
– Are there any other strategic or operational changes you should make (short and long-term) with regards to the auction website or the business generally? Are there other areas where you could run into similar legal or intercultural difficulties and how could they be avoided?
– How do all your proposed changes fit within your overall corporate strategy?
– What are the financial implication of your proposed measures?
– What should Jerry Yang say/not say during his interview with the French reporter?
