By Denis Carmel
GOOGLE HAS AGREED to pay for the news it helps circulate online in France.
On January 21st, Google France and The Alliance de la Presse d’Information Générale announced an agreement about neighbouring rights under French law. This is a major step forward in Europe as it is the culmination of months of negotiations within the framework set by the French Competition Authority.
The Alliance de la Presse d’Information Générale represents some 300 publishers from France and this agreement establishes a framework within which Google will negotiate individual licensing agreements with IPG certified publishers within APIG’s membership, while reflecting the principles of the law. These agreements will cover publishers’ neighbouring rights, and allow for participation in News Showcase, a new licensing program recently launched by Google to provide readers access to enriched content, explains the announcement.
The remuneration that is included in these licensing agreements is based on criteria such as the publisher’s contribution to political and general information (IPG certified publishers), the daily volume of publications, and its monthly internet traffic. Google did not volunteer how much money is at stake.
Sébastien Missoffe, CEO of Google France said in a blog post in French: “Today’s agreement with APIG is a major step forward. It confirms Google’s commitment to compensate publishers appropriately under French law and opens up new opportunities for our publisher partners. We are happy to contribute to the development of news publishers in the digital age, to further support journalism.”
Pierre Louette, CEO of Groupe Les Echos —Le Parisien, and president of the Alliance, said: “After long months of negotiations, this agreement is an important milestone, which marks the effective recognition of the neighbouring rights of press publishers and the beginning of their remuneration by digital platforms for the use of their online publications.”
Heritage Minister, Steven Guilbeault indicated several times in 2020 that he was following very closely what was happening in Europe and has promised to table a Bill that would deal issue of rights and payment for news producers in Canada.
With this deal done, it will be interesting to watch how the Canadian government reacts.
Then again, in Australia, Google swears it won’t pay for any such thing and may block its search function Down Under.
