Agence France-Presse (AFP) introduced a lawsuit in opposition to X, the corporate previously often known as Twitter, on August 2, citing Europe’s “neighboring rights” laws.
In accordance with a press launch, AFP is asking the courts to pressure X — which the press launch refers to as “Twitter” all through — to reveal knowledge associated to the variety of occasions articles have been shared on the platform:
“This transfer is geared toward compelling Twitter, in accordance with the regulation, to offer all the mandatory parts required for assessing the remuneration owed to AFP beneath the neighbouring rights laws.”
The European Union’s neighboring rights laws was up to date in 2019 to incorporate information organizations and the works they publish. By regulation, social media organizations working within the E.U. can’t legally reproduce information content material with out an settlement with the unique writer.
Basically, the E.U. regulation seeks to implement a system much like copyright royalties for leisure media. Social media organizations and different shops that reproduce or facilitate the replica or sharing of copyrighted materials, together with information articles, must make funds on a per-use foundation.
The regulation’s scope contains video, photographs, and audio recordsdata as nicely. Although it’s unclear precisely what particular media AFP is claiming was reproduced on X, the regulation does specify that hyperlinking, particular phrases, and “very quick” textual content snippets are exempt.
Associated: Subscribers on X (previously Twitter) can conceal their blue checkmarks now
This might point out that AFP is searching for redress over shared photographs, movies, or textual content snippets which it feels exceeds the restrict of “very quick.”
As for X, proprietor Elon Musk was fast to reply to experiences of the lawsuit on the app, calling it “weird.”
That is weird. They need us to pay *them* for site visitors to their web site the place they make promoting income and we don’t!?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 3, 2023
This isn’t the primary time AFP has tussled with large tech over the neighboring rights regulation. Google was pressured to strike a deal over neighboring rights with the French media outlet in 2021 after a two-year authorized battle.