Google outlines plan to appease French antitrust body over news content – Reuters

0
130

The Google logo is seen on on the company's European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, February 27, 2021. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo
PARIS, Dec 15 (Reuters) – Google (GOOGL.O) has submitted proposals to the French antitrust watchdog about how it would deal with news agencies and publishers in a dispute about paying for news content, Google and the watchdog said on Wednesday.
France's Competition Authority said in a statement it would put these proposals to a public consultation and the parties involved must respond by Jan. 31, 2022.
News organizations, which have been losing ad revenue to online aggregators such as Google and Facebook (FB.O), have complained for years about tech companies using stories in search results or other features without copyright payment.
As part of its proposals, Google commits to negotiate "in good faith" with news agencies and publishers the amount it would pay for using their protected content.
It also commits to making a payment offer within three months from the start of the negotiation.
If a deal cannot be reached, it would be possible to go to an arbitration court that would decide on the amount to pay.
Google said on its Google France blog its proposals highlighted its willingness to open a new chapter in the copyright dispute.
In November, Google began paying Agence France-Presse for its news content in a deal that follows France enacting a copyright law that creates "neighboring rights," requiring big tech companies to open talks with news publishers that want a licensing payment. [nFWN2S81MP[
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Subscribe for our daily curated newsletter to receive the latest exclusive Reuters coverage delivered to your inbox.
Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.
Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology.
The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs.
The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals.
Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile.
Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts.
Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks.
All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays.
© 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved

source