European Press publishers comment the first entry into force of Copyright Directive’s press publishers’ right in France

Today marks the first entry into force of a press publishers’ right in France. 

The European Magazine Media Association (EMMA) and the European Newspaper Publishers’ Association (ENPA) show solidarity to the complete representations of newspaper and magazine publishers in France which held today a press conference to mark their strong opposition to Google’s unilateral change of settings and refusal to negotiate licence agreements with publishers for the use of their content. 

In practice, Google leaves publishers across Europe which are referenced in their French services with the choice either to waive their right and to release their content without compensation or to be penalised in the search results.

The French associations or l'Alliance de la Presse d'Information Générale (APIG), the Fédération Nationale de la Presse d'Information Spécialisée (FNPS), and the Syndicat des Editeurs de la Presse Magazine (SEPM) stressed that should publishers decide to keep on displaying pictures and short extracts, this does not constitute a renunciation neither to the exercise of their neighbouring right, nor to the principle of fair remuneration. 

It was also announced at the press conference that French publishers will introduce formal complaints on Google’s behaviour to the French competition authority which has launched its preliminary investigation on 2 October.

EMMA-ENPA have been advocating for the EU to take a proactive role in order put an end to the competitive imbalances suffered by press publishers across Europe in front of dominant platforms. 

Xavier Bouckaert, President of EMMA said: “Google’s refusal to pay for the use of press contents goes against the intention of the French and European laws and represents a defiance to national and European sovereignty.” 

Carlo Perrone, President of ENPA said: “The publishers’ right is the first step to address platform’s dominance online. We will consider possible formal and legal steps to stop this misuse of Google’s market dominant position.” 

For further information on EMMA-ENPA’s suggestions for tackling market dominant platforms, click our pdf.