PRESS RELEASE

-Brussels, 9 April 2020-

News Media Europe welcomes the ruling of the French Competition Authority requesting Google to negotiate with press publishers for the reuse and remuneration of press content. 

On 9 April 2020, the French Competition Authority released its preliminary ruling in favour of press publishers asking for urgent interim measures against Google. Following the French implementation of the neighbouring right, Google unilaterally decided to remove press contents from its platforms unless publishers granted licenses for free.

The Competition Authority ordered urgent interim measures on the ground that Google’s behaviour caused serious and immediate harm to the press sector. In addition, Google’s new terms and conditions are likely to constitute an abuse of dominant.

The interim measures oblige Google to enter in good faith negotiations with press publishers and news agencies to discuss both the terms of content reuse and the associated remuneration. During the three-month negotiations, Google must provide monthly reports to the Authority on how it complies with the decision.

Wout van Wijk, Executive Director of News Media Europe, reacted: “The decision is very good news for French press publishers, and for the European news media industry. Not only does it recognise the true value of press content, it rebalances the relations between content producers and online platforms. We urgently need the implementation of the publishers right throughout Europe”.

About News Media Europe

News Media Europe (NME) represents the progressive news media industry in Europe – over 2500 European news brands in print or online, and also on radio and TV. NME is committed to maintaining and promoting the freedom of the press, to upholding and enhancing the freedom to publish, and to championing the news brands which are one of the most vital parts of Europe’s creative industries.

For further information, please contact:

Aurore Raoux, aurore.raoux@newsmediaeurope.eu