The US Internet group refuses to comply with the EU directive and pay the neighboring right for the press.
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"France and Germany reaffirm their determination to implement the new European Copyright Directive and to ensure full compliance with these rules. " It is with this terse, but firm tone, that Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel, in their joint statement at the end of the Franco-German Council of Ministers on Wednesday, October 16, signified their intention to face up to Google. The leader of online research has indeed announced, September 25, he refused to pay the neighboring right created for the press by the European directive of March 26, transposed into French law, July 23. Since then, the executive and the media, taken aback, have criticized this decision "Unacceptable." After fumbling, the response begins to organize.
"Some actors like Google today want to free themselves (rules). We will not let go, assured the President of the Republic, at a press conference on Wednesday. We call on national and European competition authorities to review and initiate all possible procedures as soon as possible. " At the end of September, the French Competition Authority announced an investigation, but it is not, at this stage, "Qu'exploratoire" without knowing whether it will give rise to the opening of a dispute, or in what period.
"With the statements of Wednesday, we pass a level"
"With the statements of Wednesday, we pass a level," supports Franck Riester, present on the Franco-German Council. Minister of Culture reports meeting with Google executives – Patrick Jabal, vice president of Google, responsible for partnerships, and Cécile Frot-Coutaz, director of YouTube for Europe and Africa – Saturday, in New York , during a trip. "It has allowed me to reaffirm France's position and to see that they are still struggling to bring themselves to share value as provided by law. Hence the need for us to be even more determined ", explains Riester. The minister has set a next step in the political response: the Council of European Ministers of Culture on 21 November. "We will discuss with the other Member States the levers to be implemented", he warned on October 8th.
Some publishers want to change the law, to provide a mechanism in case negotiations fail with Google
