Google, AFP Settle News Dispute

By Geoff Duncan April 9, 2007

Two years ago, the Agence France-Press (AFP) sued Internet giant Google over the latter’s Google News service, claiming that Google’s posting of headlines, news summaries, and images via Google News constituted copyright infringement. The lawsuit, filed in both France and the United States, was based on a similar argument to disputes Google has faced with Belgian publishers: basically, that Google was taking headlines, summaries, and photographs, republishing them, and reaping benefits from advertising associated with that content, all without asking permission of (or compensating) the publishers and copyright holders. Google has always maintained that its actions amount to fair use.

Today, Google and the AFP settled their dispute, announcing a license agreement that brings an end to the two year-old lawsuit and lets Google News post content and photos from AFP. Details of the settlement were not disclosed; however, a statement issued by both companies says the agreement “will enable the use of AFP’s newswire content in innovative, new ways that will dramatically improve the way users experience newswire content on the Internet.”

AFP Chairman and CEO Pierre Louette indicated the deal goes beyond mere content sharing, but did not offer any detail.

The AFP arrangement wouldn’t be the first time Google has gotten into bed with a news agency: the company currently pays an undisclosed amount to the Associated Press to include the wire services’ content in its services

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