Google Argues Australia's proposed "News Media Bargaining Code" Will Have "Negative Consequences"

[engine]

Google has taken another shot at Australia's proposed new law, "News Media Bargaining Code" would have negative effects across YouTube creators, as well as news from other sources.

There are several areas that deeply concern us about this proposed law because it prioritises the traditional news industry over smaller creators of content and the platforms where they find an audience. We are particularly concerned that it provides unfair advantages to large news businesses over anyone else online, including the very creators that make YouTube, YouTube

[australia.googleblog.com...]

Previous story Google Rebukes Australia's Code of Conduct For Tech Giants to Pay For News Content [webmasterworld.com]

[engine]

Australia's ACCC ( Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) hits back at google for misleading with its post on the blog.

The ACCC said following the letter that Google would not be required to charge Australians for the use of its free services such as Google Search and YouTube, unless it chooses to do so. It also said Google would not be required to share any additional user data with Australian news businesses, unless again, it chooses to do so.

"The draft code will allow Australian news businesses to negotiate for fair payment for their journalists' work that is included on Google services," it stated.

[zdnet.com...]

[jpalmer]

Wonder how "charging" Aussie users will go? Especially given the long, long, long history Google has with Australia, and Oz being amongst the top test markets for any new BETA.

I bet Bing is watching carefully.

For myself, with an 80 percent reliance on organic Google traffic, I say bring it. It's time someone stood up to multinational conglomerates exercising near monopoly market power and tax "minimisation".

Who knows, maybe Webwombat can rise from the grave?