In a recent development, Google has agreed on a yearly payment of €3.2mn to German publishers for featuring their content on its News search platform. This move is part of a provisional pact between Google and Corint Media. Both parties are awaiting a decisive verdict from the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) which might escalate the compensation amount further.
About Corint Media
Corint Media, a notable European entity, epitomises over 500 domestic and global media conglomerates. These include notable names such as Axel Springer, Al Jazzeera, France 24, and CNBC Europe.
The firm has been in a longstanding contention with Google over the “unlawful” exploitation of press materials without any remuneration. Initially, a hefty €420mn compensation for the news content utilised in 2022 was pursued by Corint Media. However, now, with the DPMA’s impending decision, they anticipate a “significantly” higher sum than the preliminary €3.2mn.
Previous settlements & ongoing litigations
The agreement trails a previous settlement where Google accorded to a singular €5.8mn payment covering the tenure from June 2021 to March 2023, post the enforcement of the EU’s press ancillary copyright law. This recent commitment to Corint Media aligns with Google’s existing agreements with 470 regional and national publications in Germany. The publication include reputable German outlets like Zeit and Spiegel, as per Google’s statement.
Dr Christine Jury-Fischer, the managing director of Corint Media, emphasised that: “Where the quasi-monopoly Google otherwise dictates prices, the route through ordinary courts is the only way to get appropriate compensation for the use of content”.
This decision demonstrates that even a segment of the press market can effectively counteract Google’s dominant commercial methods, provided there’s substantial unity. Dr Jury-Fischer has also stated that the company’s success in this case should extend benefits to other publishers as well.
This unfolding saga between Google and German publishers underscores the ongoing global discourse on equitable compensation for content creators in the digital era.
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