Google said on Friday it will disable its search function in Australia if the country’s government proceeds with a media code that would force it and Facebook to pay local media companies for sharing their content.
Australia is on course to pass laws that would make the tech companies negotiate payments with local publishers and broadcasters for content. If they can’t strike a deal, a government-appointed arbitrator will decide the price.
So, newspapers want to be paid for their content.
OK.
So a law is passed telling Google to pay if they use. As in Spain. Google says not thinks and closes Google News Spain. Newspapers pissed off at lost traffic.
Germany tries again and says if you use in the main search engine then you must pay unless publisher agrees not to charge. Google says to be included you must not charge. Newspaper agree traffic is worth more than payments, so all agree not to charge.
Oz tries again. You must pay for clips. Oh, and, also, you can’t not have clips. Google says we’ll not have a search engine in Oz then.
It’s this same old, old, delusion, that something is worth more than someone is willing to pay for it. Newspapers are really sure their output is worth money. Google ain’t so sure. And as it’s Google being asked to pay….