Google: 5.8 million euros for press content

The Patent and Trademark Office has decided that Google should pay 5.8 million euros for press content included in its own search. For the publishing industry, which had demanded 420 million euros, this is a clear defeat.

Significantly below the demand of the collecting society

The interests of the publishing industry are represented in the aforementioned case by the collecting society Corint Media, formerly VG Media. The latter had demanded a payment of 420 million euros from Google for the period since June 7, 2021. The claim arises from the fact that Google integrates content from publishing platforms directly into its own site and does not merely link to it. User fees are due for this. Google had offered a payment of 3.2 million euros per year. The case subsequently went to the Arbitration Board of the German Patent and Trademark Office. This has now decided that Google must pay 5.8 million euros for the period mentioned – which is far below the amount demanded.

Google sees success

Since the proposal is in line with Google’s ideas, the company unsurprisingly called it a success. The proposal “is in line with our previous offer of an interim payment for the press rights held by Corint,” a Google spokesman said. He also spoke of “vastly excessive demands” on the part of Corint Media. The amount now set is in line with fees Google has already agreed to with other publishers.

The collecting society sees in the decision despite the small height likewise a success, since thereby it is confirmed that Google actually uses strange press contents – and thus in principle a remuneration requirement exists. Google had initially disputed this. The collecting society also pointed out that the decision of the arbitration board does not mean the last word in the matter: It is only an agreement on a provisional payment for the period since June 7, 2021. Corint Media continues to assume that high amounts in the millions will be set as an appropriate royalty in main proceedings.