Spain pushes for 'Google tax' to restrict linking

#1

Post by dmarinoc » Mon, Jul 28, 2014, 4:50 PM UTC

Spain pushes for 'Google tax' to restrict linking
boingboing.net

Re: Spain pushes for 'Google tax' to restrict linking

#2

Post by Taek » Mon, Jul 28, 2014, 5:17 PM UTC

This will most likely be damaging to the newspapers in the long run. The result will be a reduced proliferation of links to the newspapers, which will cause a lower visibility.

Re: Spain pushes for 'Google tax' to restrict linking

#3

Post by fleitz » Mon, Jul 28, 2014, 5:20 PM UTC

My guess is those most likely to have to pay the tax will simply withdraw services from Spain.

Re: Spain pushes for 'Google tax' to restrict linking

#4

Post by coldcode » Mon, Jul 28, 2014, 5:30 PM UTC

Countries all over the world seem to think that forcing international companies to conform to their local requirements makes sense.

Re: Spain pushes for 'Google tax' to restrict linking

#5

Post by cheald » Mon, Jul 28, 2014, 5:31 PM UTC

fleitz wrote: post #3

My guess is those most likely to have to pay the tax will simply withdraw services from Spain.

Or just stop hyperlinking things that go to Spanish sites.

Re: Spain pushes for 'Google tax' to restrict linking

#6

Post by gress » Mon, Jul 28, 2014, 5:32 PM UTC

coldcode wrote: post #4

Countries all over the world seem to think that forcing international companies to conform to their local requirements makes sense.

How does it not? Operating in more than one country doesn't somehow exempt you from laws.

Re: Spain pushes for 'Google tax' to restrict linking

#7

Post by Guvante » Mon, Jul 28, 2014, 5:36 PM UTC

gress wrote: post #6

coldcode wrote: post #4

Countries all over the world seem to think that forcing international companies to conform to their local requirements makes sense.

How does it not? Operating in more than one country doesn't somehow exempt you from laws.

Because they don't have to operate in your country. Google can simply decide to no longer run any operations within their borders to avoid the law.

Heck they could potentially even have a subsidiary corporation whose sole purpose is to squat Google.es and redirect to Google.com/es/

Re: Spain pushes for 'Google tax' to restrict linking

#8

Post by wutbrodo » Mon, Jul 28, 2014, 5:36 PM UTC

gress wrote: post #6

coldcode wrote: post #4

Countries all over the world seem to think that forcing international companies to conform to their local requirements makes sense.

How does it not? Operating in more than one country doesn't somehow exempt you from laws.

Agreed, I don't think the global company/local laws mismatch is a difficulty that the government should be responsible for figuring out how to deal with, but something that a company who wants to operate globally needs to figure out.

The real complaint with this recent spate of European laws around the Internet is how incredibly stupid they've been.

Re: Spain pushes for 'Google tax' to restrict linking

#9

Post by seanflyon » Mon, Jul 28, 2014, 5:37 PM UTC

gress wrote: post #6

coldcode wrote: post #4

Countries all over the world seem to think that forcing international companies to conform to their local requirements makes sense.

How does it not? Operating in more than one country doesn't somehow exempt you from laws.

It is difficult to determine which parts of the internet are within a particular countries jurisdiction.

Re: Spain pushes for 'Google tax' to restrict linking

#10

Post by anon4 » Mon, Jul 28, 2014, 5:38 PM UTC

Taek wrote: post #2

This will most likely be damaging to the newspapers in the long run. The result will be a reduced proliferation of links to the newspapers, which will cause a lower visibility.

If that were the only consequence, this wouldn't be so problematic. But it makes linking to anything something you have to pay for with the author having no way to opt out. So any time you post a link you have to pay a fee, which is collected by a government agency.