SovereigntyandSovereignImmunity. The principle of sovereignty holds that governments have the right to rule themselves as they see fit. In turn, this implies that one country´s court system cannot be used to rectify injustices or impose penalties on another unless that country agrees. So, while U.S. laws require equality in the workplace for all employees, U.S. citizens who take a job in Japan cannot sue their Japanese employer under the provisions of U.S. law for the failure to provide equal opportunity for them.
InternationalJurisdiction. International law provides for three types of jurisdictional principles. The first is the nationality principle, which holds that every country has juridisction over its citizens no matter where they are located. The second is the territoriality principle, which holds that every nation has the right of jurisdiction within its legal territory. Therefore, a German firm that sells a defective product in England can be sued under English law even though the company headquartered outside of England. The third is protective principle, which holds that every country has jurisdiction over behavior that adversely affects its national security, even if the conduct occured outside the country. Therefore, a French firm that sells secret U.S. government blueprints for a satellite system can be subjected to
U.S. laws.
Doctrine of Comity. The doctrine of comityholds that there must be mutual respect for the laws, institutions, and government of other countries in the matter of jurisdiction over their own citizens. Although this doctrine is not part of international law, it is part of international custom and tradition.
Actof State Doctrine.Undertheactofstatedocrine, all actsofothergovernmnets are considred to be valid by U.S. courts, even if such acts are inappropriate in the United States. As a result, for example, foreign governments have the right to set limits on the repatriation of MNC profits and to forbid companies from sending more than this amount out of the country.
