EU approves tougher EU copyright rules in blow to Google, Facebook

EU approves tougher EU copyright rules in blow to Google, Facebook

Google will have to pay publishers for news snippets and Facebook filter out protected content under new copyright rules aimed at ensuring fair compensation for the European Union’s $1 trillion creative industries.

European Union members on 15 April backed the move launched by the European Commission two years ago to protect Europe’s creative industries, which employ 11.7 million people in the bloc.

Under the new rules, Google and other online platforms will have to sign licensing agreements with musicians, performers, authors, news publishers and journalists to use their work.

COPYRIGHT IN EUROPEAN UNION

There were several European Union members who opposed the new copyright law passed by European Union - Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden opposed it.

But 19 countries, including France and Germany, endorsed the revamp, while Belgium, Estonia and Slovenia abstained.

Under the new regime Google-owned YouTube, Facebook’s Instagram and other sharing platforms will have to install filters to prevent users from uploading copyrighted materials.

WHAT GOOGLE SAID?

Google said the new rules would hurt Europe’s creative and digital economies, while critics said it would hit cash-strapped smaller companies rather than the tech giants.

Poland said the overhaul was a step backwards as the filter requirement may lay the foundation for censorship.