Google rests its case in French dispute over online content

Google rests its case in French dispute over online content

France’s antitrust authority confirmed that Alphabet subsidiary Google has pledged to settle a national copyright issue.

According to the antitrust authority, Google decided not to fight a $528 million punishment paid last year. The ruling puts an end to the authority’s probe into Google, which has consented to speak with news organizations and other publishers about compensating them for using their content on its platform.

The issue

News publishers maintain that the exploitation of portions of their news material online was the driving force behind the growth of Google’s online ad sales, depriving them of a viable cash stream when print sales were declining.

Initially, the tech giant dismissed such charges, claiming that the online traffic it delivered to news websites via its search engine and news aggregator drove many internet users to news websites, allowing publishers to create their own ad-based revenue.

Meanwhile, under pressure from the national antitrust authority, Google addressed the issue by making agreements with several prominent news organizations, including newspapers Le Monde, Le Figaro, and Liberation.

Google has committed to a compensation plan

Within three months of the commencement of discussions, Google will commit to a compensation plan; if an agreement cannot be reached, the subject will be resolved by a court. The American corporation will also guarantee that the talks won’t affect how news is delivered on its search sites. The decision comes with pressure on web companies like Google and Facebook to share more money with news organizations.

Tip: Google fined in France over misleading rating system for hotels