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Spanish News Publishers’ Association Asks Gov to Help Stop Google News Closure

thespainreport.com

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Re: Spanish News Publishers’ Association Asks Gov to Help Stop Google News Closure

#2
Jeez. So do they have any proposed solution beyond "government intervention"? It's a fact that Google isn't going to pay to host Spanish news, nor can the government force them to do that. So either they need to

1. amend the law saying that Google is an exception, OR

2. amend the law to make payment for news snippets no longer an "inalienable right", OR

3. repeal the law.

Which in the end brings back the exact situation that was there before the law.

EDIT: Just realized that number 1 doesn't count. I don't think you can make an inalienable right and an exception to that right at the same time.

Re: Spanish News Publishers’ Association Asks Gov to Help Stop Google News Closure

#3

Jeez. So do they have any proposed solution beyond "government intervention"? It's a fact that Google isn't going to pay to host Spanish news, nor can the government force them to do that. So either they need to 1. amend the law saying that Google is an exception, OR 2. amend the law to make payment for news snippets no longer an "inalienable right", OR 3. repeal the law. Which in the end brings back the exact situat…

In Germany all major publisher, including those that fought to get a similar law, signed contracts with Google allowing them to index without pay. All small aggregators and search engines still have to pay so the end result is that Google News Germany is more powerful than before. I expect something similar in Spain.

Re: Spanish News Publishers’ Association Asks Gov to Help Stop Google News Closure

#5
post #3

Jeez. So do they have any proposed solution beyond "government intervention"? It's a fact that Google isn't going to pay to host Spanish news, nor can the government force them to do that. So either they need to 1. amend the law saying that Google is an exception, OR 2. amend the law to make payment for news snippets no longer an "inalienable right", OR 3. repeal the law. Which in the end brings back the exact situat…

In Germany all major publisher, including those that fought to get a similar law, signed contracts with Google allowing them to index without pay. All small aggregators and search engines still have to pay so the end result is that Google News Germany is more powerful than before. I expect something similar in Spain.

Yup, exactly. The only reason it didn't happen in Spain right away is the "inalienable right" clause, so that publisher's couldn't sign away the right to be paid. If that goes away, it'll be the same situation as Germany.

Re: Spanish News Publishers’ Association Asks Gov to Help Stop Google News Closure

#6
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Germany all major publisher, including those that fought to get a similar law, signed contracts with Google allowing them to index without pay. All small aggregators and search engines still have to pay so the end result is that Google News Germany is more powerful than before. I expect something similar in Spain.

Yup, exactly. The only reason it didn't happen in Spain right away is the "inalienable right" clause, so that publisher's couldn't sign away the right to be paid. If that goes away, it'll be the same situation as Germany.

Good, it's even better

Now those imbeciles realize they shot themselves in the foot?

If they want Google to stay they should pay them. It's that simple

Re: Spanish News Publishers’ Association Asks Gov to Help Stop Google News Closure

#8
My guess is that Spanish media pushed Spanish government for getting a "compensation" like the French publishers got -or will get- (60 € million) because of Google News operating in France. Google said, no, and then, the Spanish News Publishers' Association became worried because that would hurt them. So, they played a bluff, and they lost. Great victory for Google.

Re: Spanish News Publishers’ Association Asks Gov to Help Stop Google News Closure

#9

Jeez. So do they have any proposed solution beyond "government intervention"? It's a fact that Google isn't going to pay to host Spanish news, nor can the government force them to do that. So either they need to 1. amend the law saying that Google is an exception, OR 2. amend the law to make payment for news snippets no longer an "inalienable right", OR 3. repeal the law. Which in the end brings back the exact situat…

I think you missed the point of the news:

First AEDE, the Spanish News Publishers’ Association lobbied for the law that created fees for web linking (pretty insane and ultimately unfeasible).

After the law was passed, Google said they would then close Google News Spain since they make no money with it.

Now AEDE seems to have changed its mind and is actually asking the opposite, for the government to prevent Google News closure.

Also, regarding your points: 1. You should not make arbitrary laws. 2 and 3 are good.

Re: Spanish News Publishers’ Association Asks Gov to Help Stop Google News Closure

#10
post #3

Jeez. So do they have any proposed solution beyond "government intervention"? It's a fact that Google isn't going to pay to host Spanish news, nor can the government force them to do that. So either they need to 1. amend the law saying that Google is an exception, OR 2. amend the law to make payment for news snippets no longer an "inalienable right", OR 3. repeal the law. Which in the end brings back the exact situat…

In Germany all major publisher, including those that fought to get a similar law, signed contracts with Google allowing them to index without pay. All small aggregators and search engines still have to pay so the end result is that Google News Germany is more powerful than before. I expect something similar in Spain.

Do we have any insight into why they made an exception for Google? The obvious starting point is Google threatening to stop search indexing sites they can't use in Google news - there might even be technical justification for that. But presumably the publishers would attack that as abusing a monopoly position, it seems pretty much textbook definition. They must have known signing with Google while that law existed would only make Google stronger like you said - so it'd be interesting to know why they'd do that.
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