Google fined 65 billion yen, failed to negotiate license with news media

French competition regulators told Google on July 13, 2021 that Google did not comply with the April 2020 order to 'negotiate licenses for the use of news and other content with the media.' We fined 500 million euros (about 65 billion yen).

Rémunération des droits voisins: l'Autorité sanctionne Google à hauteur de 500 millions d'euros pour le non-respect de plusieurs injonctions | Autorité de la concurrence
https://www.autoritedelaconcurrence.fr/fr/communiques-de-presse/remuneration-des-droits-voisins-lautorite-sanctionne-google-hauteur-de-500

Google fined 500 million euros in France in news copyright row
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/13/google-fined-500-million-euros-in-france-over-news-copyright-row.html

France fines Google 500 mln euros over copyright row | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/technology/france-fines-google-500-mln-over-copyright-row-2021-07-13/

Google (GOOG: US) Fined $ 593 Million By French Antitrust Agency --Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-13/google-said-to-be-fined-593-million-by-french-antitrust-agency

In France, the copyright law was amended in July 2019 to allow 'related rights ' when distributing news on the Internet, and Google will charge the publishers and media that distribute the news to the news usage fee. I had to pay.

In response, Google responded by 'not displaying some links and content in search results and Google News.' Google has long refused to pay content usage fees, and in 2014, Google News was discontinued in Spain, which passed a bill requiring payment of usage fees to Google.

As a result of the decision to enforce the 'Google tax' law, Google News is no longer in service --GIGAZINE

By Alain Bachellier

In response to Google's response, the French Competition Commission said, 'Authorities have said that Google's approach triggered by the enforcement of neighboring rights legislation is likely to lead to abuse of its dominant position, which is serious and immediate in the press. 'We believe it will cause harm to Google,' and ordered Google to 'negotiate with the media in good faith within three months to deliver protected content,' April 2020. I gave it on the 9th of March.

In January 2021, Google announced that it had begun negotiations with the French press to pay for news royalties.

Google agrees to pay 'news royalties' to French news outlets-GIGAZINE

However, negotiations between Google and the media broke down. The French press Le Syndicat des éditeurs de presse magazine (SEPM), l'Alliance de Presse d'information Générale (APIG), and l'Agence France Presse (AFP) announced in August-September 2020 that 'Google' Did not negotiate in good faith, 'the French Competition Commission was conducting a Google investigation.

As a result of the investigation, the French Competition Commission fined Google 500 million euros for failing to comply with the April 2020 order. This € 500 million is the highest fine ever imposed by the French Competition Commission.

In addition, the French Competition Commission has stated that 'negotiate in good faith according to objective, transparent and fair standards' and 'provide the media with the information necessary to appreciate the transparency of compensation'. He asked Google and announced that if he didn't provide the press with all the information he needed within two months, he would impose a delay of up to € 900,000 per day.

A Google spokeswoman told CNBC in the economic media, 'I was very disappointed with the decision of the French Competition Commission. We have acted in good faith from the beginning. The fine is to reach a settlement. It ignores our efforts and the reality of how the news works on our platform. '

A Google spokeswoman said, 'Google is the only company to announce an agreement on neighboring rights. In addition, the license fee for neighboring rights for publications and contracts with AFP, including global license agreements, will be finally decided. I plan to do it. '