[LINK] AFP and Google Settled Months Ago

[Roger Clarke]

[Thanks to the several linkers who contributed parts of the answer, 
on-list and off.  This and the next posting catch us up with where 
things are.

[Firstly, I missed this at the time:]

http://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2007/04/afp_v_google_se.htm
plus:

Agence France-Presse, Google settle copyright dispute
By Caroline McCarthy, News.com
Published on ZDNet News: Apr 6, 2007 3:38:00 PM
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6174008.html

News agency Agence France-Presse has entered into a licensing deal 
with Google, ending the dispute between the two over AFP's articles 
appearing on Google News.

The agreement, announced Friday, allows Google to post AFP content, 
including news stories and photographs, on its Google News aggregator 
as well as on other Google services. No further details or financial 
terms were disclosed by either party.

Paris-based AFP had sued Google in March 2005 for $17.5 million in 
damages over alleged copyright infringement on Google's news site, 
claiming that the search giant was posting headlines, photographs and 
news summaries without permission. With Friday's deal, AFP has agreed 
to drop the lawsuit.

"Google's use was not a fair use, but since all uses (of AFP content) 
are now covered by the new agreement, it's a moot point between AFP 
and Google," said Joshua Kaufman, a lawyer who represents AFP. "We 
signed a license agreement that will enable them to use AFP's 
newswire content in all Google services as well as in its new 
products that are coming up."

Kaufman declined to provide specifics regarding compensation but 
noted that the agreement is effective immediately. "As far as we 
know, (AFP content) could be appearing (on Google) as we speak," he 
said.

Google spokesman Ricardo Reyes emphasized that the Mountain View, 
Calif.-based company is very optimistic about the new agreement, 
claiming that it "will enable the use of AFP's newswire content in 
innovative, new ways that will dramatically improve newswire content 
on the Internet." Reyes added that the "new collaboration will ensure 
that AFP's original journalism and breaking news are easily 
discoverable on Google services and in particular on Google News."

Last August, Google forged a similar agreement with the Associated 
Press. In that deal, Google agreed to pay the AP for the use of its 
news and photos, but indicated that the content would not be used for 
the Google News aggregator. Rather, the AP content would be for use 
in a Google product that has yet to make its debut.

This yet-to-be-launched product may also tie into Friday's AFP 
agreement. Kaufman hinted that Google will be coming out with 
"interesting new projects" that will incorporate the news agency's 
content, though there is no clear indication that this is the same 
new Google service that was referenced in the AP deal in August.

Google's copyright woes are not limited to news: its Library Project 
and accompanying Google Book Search have resulted in widespread 
controversy in the publishing industry.


-- 
Roger Clarke                  http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/
			            
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in Info Science & Eng  Australian National University
Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program      University of Hong Kong
Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of NSW