The investigative newspaper has just refused the money that Google was going to pay it for “neighboring rights”. And Mediapart cites a question of transparency to justify its refusal.
Since a European directive dated 2019, newspapers are considered to be able to obtain a sum of money from internet giants, such as Google, for related rights. For the legislator, this involves remunerating the reuse of content produced by the media on major digital platforms. An exercise to which Google complies, but under conditions which do not satisfy Mediapart. Reason why the newspaper refused the sum owed to it.
Mediapart says no to Google money
Last October, the Collective Management Organization for Related Rights of the Press (OGC-DVP), which represents 305 publishers and press agencies such as AFP or Le Monde, obtained an agreement with Google. But if since then, the press headlines have validated the payment made by the American giant, Mediapart has for its part decided to refuse.
“ In March 2024, Mediapart should have received a substantial sum in return for Google’s use of our articles, and therefore our exclusive information, on its search engine. But in the absence of transparency, we stopped the arrival of the transfer on our accounts » indicates the newspaper.
A battle for transparency
Indeed, Mediapart criticizes the conditions of opacity imposed by the contract. “ An essential condition for our newspaper could not be achieved: transparency on the signed contract and its terms of application » informs us the media. One way for Google, according to Mediapart, not to “ publicly recognize the value of information. »
For the moment, the sum “ substantial » that Mediapart was to receive, for three years of use of its articles, remains in the reserves of the OGC-DVP. With this decision, the media founded by Edwy Plenel more than 15 years ago hopes to launch a fundamental movement in the sector, and to be joined by others, in order to be able to put pressure on Google. The long-term objective is to obtain from Parliament the inclusion in law of “ refusal of secrecy » in the question of neighboring rights.
Source : The world, Mediapart
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