Google Loses Appeal in France Over News Snippet Payments
A Paris appeals court has upheld a ruling requiring Google to negotiate payments with French publishers for reusing snippets of their news content. This decision reinforces France’s enforcement of EU copyright reforms and leaves the tech giant with limited legal recourse.
The Legal Backdrop
- EU Copyright Directive: France was the first EU country to implement the 2019 Copyright Reform, creating a “neighbouring right” for news content.
- April 2020 Ruling: France’s competition authority initially ordered Google to compensate publishers for content reuse.
- Failed Appeal: Google’s challenge to this ruling has now been dismissed by the Paris Court of Appeal.
Google’s Response
A company spokesperson stated:
“Our priority remains reaching an agreement with French publishers. We appealed for legal clarity on certain aspects of the order and will now review the court’s decision.”
Google maintains that:
- The appeal sought clarification on “contradictory and confusing” elements
- Negotiations with publishers continue separately from the legal process
- Concerns persist about how publisher rights are being interpreted
Global Implications
This ruling comes amid:
- Australia’s Push: Developing its own legally binding framework for tech giants to pay news publishers
- Google’s PR Move: A separate $1BN “Google News Showcase” initiative to license content (launching in Germany/Brazil)
Why This Matters
The French case sets a significant precedent for:
- Publisher Compensation: Establishing that platforms must pay for content reuse
- EU-Wide Impact: Other countries may follow France’s strict interpretation
- Tech Giant Accountability: Limits Google’s ability to circumvent payments through unilateral actions
[Source: Original TechCrunch reporting]
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