Hate ads? Verify for LSD+ → Learn More

Case Citation
Legal Case Name

CYBERSELL, INC. v. CYBERSELL, INC. Case Brief

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit1997
130 F.3d 414 Civil Procedure Internet Law Intellectual Property Constitutional Law

Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs

Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.

Adaptive Case Views

Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.

Exam-Ready IRAC Format

We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.

Complex Cases, Clarified

We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.

Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
4 min read

tl;dr: A Florida company’s passive website, accessible in Arizona, was found insufficient to establish personal jurisdiction there. The court held that merely operating a website accessible everywhere does not, by itself, constitute purposeful availment of a specific forum’s laws.

Legal Significance: Established that a passive website, without more, does not create specific personal jurisdiction. This case helped create the “sliding scale” or “Zippo” test for internet-based jurisdiction, distinguishing passive sites from interactive ones that purposefully target a forum.

CYBERSELL, INC. v. CYBERSELL, INC. Law School Study Guide

Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.

Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

Plaintiff Cybersell, Inc. (Cybersell AZ), an Arizona corporation, held a federal service mark for the name “Cybersell.” Defendant Cybersell, Inc. (Cybersell FL), a Florida corporation with its principal place of business in Florida, was formed by Florida residents to offer web page construction services. Cybersell FL created a website to advertise its services, which used the name “CyberSell.” The website was essentially passive; it provided information about the company’s services, listed a local Florida phone number, and included a link for visitors to email the company. The site did not allow for online sales, contracts, or any other commercial transactions. Cybersell AZ discovered the website and filed a trademark infringement suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. Cybersell FL had no offices, employees, or bank accounts in Arizona. It had made no sales, entered into no contracts, and earned no income from Arizona residents. Its only contact with Arizona was the general accessibility of its website on the internet and an email it received from Cybersell AZ.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Does a non-resident defendant’s operation of an essentially passive website, which is accessible in the forum state but does not specifically target it, constitute sufficient minimum contacts to support the exercise of specific personal jurisdiction?

No, the exercise of personal jurisdiction is not proper. The defendant’s creation Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in repreh

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

IRAC Legal Analysis

Premium Feature Unlock

Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades

IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.

Legal Issue

Does a non-resident defendant’s operation of an essentially passive website, which is accessible in the forum state but does not specifically target it, constitute sufficient minimum contacts to support the exercise of specific personal jurisdiction?

Conclusion

This case is a foundational precedent establishing that a passive website, without Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor i

Legal Rule

For a court to exercise specific personal jurisdiction over a non-resident defendant, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing

Legal Analysis

The court applied the Ninth Circuit's three-part test for specific jurisdiction, focusing Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • The operation of an essentially passive website, without more, is insufficient
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur s

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

Hate ads? Verify for LSD+ → Learn More