Günther Oettinger, the EU’s incoming Digital Commissioner, has announced plans to reform existing copyright laws within one year, indicating the likely addition of an EU “Google-tax”, similar to that applicable in Germany. EurActiv.de reports. […]
In a recent debate with Google chief Eric Schmidt in Berlin, German Economic Minister Sigmar Gabriel criticised the fact that Google uses information published by the press and does not pay for it. […]
In practice, German ancillary law has required all news aggregators and search engines from the media collecting society, except Google, to pay usage fees, according to Julia Reda, an MEP from the Pirate Party in Germany.
It remains unclear whether or not Oettinger was referring to German ancillary copyright law in his statement, Reda wrote on her blog. But, she added, it is safe to say that his proposal should be considered a failure. […]
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/innovation-enterprise/oettinger-floats-proposal-eu-wide-google-tax-309568