Google,AFP sign a five-year deal
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Google has signed a five-year deal with the Agence France-Presse (AFP), under which the search company will pay the news agency for news content in Europe. The sum, however, was not revealed.
A joint press release from both companies said that they would be collaborating on projects like fact-checking as well. CEO of AFP Fabrice Fries said that the agreement is a recognition of the value of information. Managing director of Google France, Sébastien Missoffe, said that the deal is a sign of "willingness to find common ground with publishers."
The deal has been under negotiation for the past 18 months. This is the first time a news agency has entered into such a deal. The agreement is under the 2019 European directive on the so-called neighbouring rights.
It is one of the biggest licensing deals struck by a tech giant under the new French law, "Neighbouring Rights". New laws in France and Australia, fuelled by media lobbying and public pressure, have led to a number of licensing deals around the world since news organisations have been losing advertisement revenue to online companies.