News
AFP signs content deal with Google ending copyright lawsuit
Agence France-Presse (AFP) has announced that it completed a licensing agreement with Google giving the search engine the right to post AFP news and photos. The agreement ends a copyright lawsuit filed by AFP two years ago while allowing Google the right to post AFP content on Google News and other services. The deal "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," the statement said.
As part of the terms of the agreement, AFP withdrew a lawsuit filed in March 2005 accusing Google of copyright infringement for allegedly posting AFP headlines, news summaries and photographs without permission. The lawsuit, was being closely watched in the media industry as the implications could have far-reaching consequences for online content. AFP's content partnership with Google follows a similar deal with the American news agency Associated Press finalized just eight months ago.
"The agreement will allow uses of AFP's content in ways that go beyond its typical use of content in Google's services, which features just headlines and snippets of text to provide just a taste of what an article offers," stated AFP chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pierre Louette.
Details of the pact between AFP and Google were not made public.
Click here to view the original press release.
Posted in: Legal / Copyright, News, Stock Photo Companies
