In several recent decisions courts have reached far to assume personal jurisdiction over Internet businesses. These decisions demonstrate the substantial risk unwary Internet businesses face of being forced to litigate in inconvenient or inhospitable forums. Although the law in this area is rapidly developing, there are steps an Internet business can take to reduce this risk.
On Aug. 7, 2001, a California appeals court assumed personal jurisdiction over an Indiana University college student whose only contact with California was posting material on a Web site that could be accessed by California Internet users. Pavlovich v. Superior Court (DVD Copy Control Assoc.), 109 Cal. Rptr. 2d 909, 916 (Cal. App. 6th Dist. 2001), cert. granted, 114 Cal. Rptr. 2d 611 (Cal. Dec. 12, 2001).
