AFP sues Musk’s X social media for refusing to discuss payment for news.
AFP sues Musk's X social media for refusing to discuss payment for news.
Agence France-Presse Sues Elon Musk’s X Social Media Platform Over Failure to Discuss Payment for Content Distribution
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Agence France-Presse (AFP) has recently taken legal action against Elon Musk’s X social media platform, previously known as Twitter, claiming that it failed to engage in discussions regarding potential payment for the distribution of the news agency’s content.
This lawsuit stems from a copyright rule called “neighbouring rights,” which was enacted in France in 2019. This rule requires large online platforms to initiate talks with publishers for the purpose of compensating them for their news content.
AFP expressed its concerns over X’s refusal to engage in discussions about implementing neighbouring rights for the press. In a statement, the news agency stated, “Agence France-Presse has expressed its concerns over the clear refusal from Twitter (recently rebranded as ‘X’) to enter into discussions regarding the implementation of neighbouring rights for the press.”
Elon Musk responded to AFP’s legal action in a post on X, expressing his disbelief. He said, “This is bizarre. They want us to pay them for traffic to their site where they make advertising revenue and we don’t!?”
X is yet to comment on the matter, leaving room for speculation and curiosity.
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This is not the first case of online platforms being held accountable in France. In 2021, the country’s antitrust watchdog fined Google, owned by Alphabet (GOOGL.O), 500 million euros for failing to comply with orders on how to conduct talks with French news publishers. Google has since committed to resolving the conflict and has already struck deals with AFP and several other prominent French news organizations.
Notably, Meta Platforms’ Facebook has also signed agreements with a number of French publishers, signaling a willingness to engage in the payment conversation.
These lawsuits and agreements highlight the ongoing tension between news publishers and online platforms. Publishers argue that online platforms generate significant amounts of traffic and advertising revenue through the distribution of news content, without adequately compensating the creators of that content. On the other hand, online platforms claim that they provide valuable exposure and traffic to publishers, enabling them to generate revenue from other sources.
While the debate continues, it is crucial to recognize the significance of news content and the work that goes into creating it. News organizations play a crucial role in informing the public and facilitating democratic societies.
To summarize the key points:
- AFP has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, for the failure to discuss payment for the distribution of their news content.
- France’s neighbouring rights rule requires online platforms to negotiate with publishers for compensation.
- Elon Musk expressed his surprise at the notion of paying for traffic to a news site.
- Google has been fined for not complying with discussions with French publishers, but has subsequently reached deals with AFP and others.
- Meta Platforms’ Facebook has also signed agreements with French publishers.
- The conflict between news publishers and online platforms revolves around the issue of compensation for news content distribution.
As technology and media continue to evolve, it is crucial for all stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue, finding a balance that respects the value of news content while allowing for the continued growth of online platforms.
