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So #Google threatens Parliament to shut down Search in Australia if the proposed "new-media bargaining code" is not changed (rules mandate #Google & #Facebook to pay publishers for links to news articles in search results). Meanwhile in Europe … 1/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-escalates-dispute-with-australia-by-threatening-search-shutdown-11611298523
...on the same day a settlement is announced between @GoogleEnFrance and French publishers @AlliancePress on payments for news - after the @Adlc_ went to war with #interim_measures and an #injunction to negotiate. Seems to have concentrated minds... 2/ https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/21/google-inks-agreement-in-france-on-paying-publishers-for-news-reuse/
Why the difference? Well, the #French solution is a local affair, a "framework agreement" for #Google to negotiate licensing deals with individual publishers under the Copyright Directive. The @acccgovau #bargaining_code has potential to #contaminate other jurisdictions...3/
...because it is novel and has interesting economic properties as a #decentralised #regulatory_solution (as said at the time)
https://voxeu.org/article/accc-s-bargaining-code-path-towards-decentralised-regulation-dominant-digital-platforms 4/
https://voxeu.org/article/accc-s-bargaining-code-path-towards-decentralised-regulation-dominant-digital-platforms 4/
..and indeed also liked by @JosephEStiglitz 5/ https://on.ft.com/37uvaYX
...although US Trade Representative in Australia came through for @Google opposing the code in the Parliament, about 5 minutes after President Biden was sworn in... 6/ https://globalcompetitionreview.com/collective-bargaining/us-urges-australia-drop-pay-news-law-google-and-facebook?utm_source=EU+fines+gaming+companies+for+geo-blocking+agreements&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=%5bgcr_daily%5d+-+2021-01-20+19%3a30%3a00+-+%5bEU+fines+gaming+companies+for+geo-blocking+agreements%5d&utm_term=EU+fines+gaming+companies+for+geo-blocking+agreements&utm_content=104943&gator_td=Okb2gRpEKLLlIAU4AkGvN8YmjRN2ukjARf4E%2bfX8oMZeIxaaEDm2zmG4mjeY2b%2bBBnOVPtCTWBB1IDt%2bGmvo3n9CuaBcOJ%2fHM10UUSdfwMFcA7nbmQmtYJKSmFwLJq3FwK5jdl1%2fvfH8da6UM5kuv%2b4UhJcj%2f%2b7D%2bsaU2RnLtdyBu5OZ7ZIe%2fH4wU7naBOz4%2fRKmHOIRm3EpBFZLzAmnmblFdc0Eki%2b6%2bDxg7O26Dz6yuf66nxRDYUypTjlAYVsn6gqy%2bq1YunEWhzNqURRLyg%3d%3d
Still, the notion of shutting down a country from Search is pretty extraordinary. Not that relations are overall cordial over there: recall a few odds and ends still pending... /fin
https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/australian-regulator-rejects-google-s-fitbit-undertaking-delays-acquisition-decision#:~:text=Australian%20regulator%20rejects%20Google's%20Fitbit%20undertaking%2C%20delays%20acquisition%20decision,-Last%20week%20the&text=The%20Australian%20Competition%20and%20Consumer,its%20planned%20acquisition%20of%20Fitbit.
https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/australian-regulator-rejects-google-s-fitbit-undertaking-delays-acquisition-decision#:~:text=Australian%20regulator%20rejects%20Google's%20Fitbit%20undertaking%2C%20delays%20acquisition%20decision,-Last%20week%20the&text=The%20Australian%20Competition%20and%20Consumer,its%20planned%20acquisition%20of%20Fitbit.
