Meta Faces Setback: European Court Rules It Must Negotiate Fair Compensation with Publishers
The European Court of Justice ruled that Meta must negotiate fair compensation with online publishers for the use of their content, a significant decision for media rights amidst increasing AI and digital platform utilization of news.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 21:23
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Central News Agency (Rome 12th, comprehensive foreign news report) The European Court of Justice today sided with Italy in a legal battle against tech giant Meta, ruling that online publishers have the right to negotiate fair compensation for the use of their content on digital platforms.
According to AFP, the case originated from a lawsuit filed by the Italian government with the European Court of Justice. Prior to this, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, challenged an Italian law requiring information service providers such as Meta or Google to negotiate with publishers and pay compensation for their content published on platforms.
In its judgment today, the court stated: "News content publishers are entitled to fair remuneration, provided that such remuneration constitutes consideration for the authorization to use their publications online."
The court also stated that publishers could choose to refuse authorization or provide free use rights for content.
The European Publishers Council (EPC) called this ruling "crucial" and said that it is particularly significant as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms extensively use news content.
Angela Mills Wade, Executive Director of the EPC, said that this important ruling helps publishers conduct fairer negotiations with large tech platforms in the future. These platforms often leverage their market dominance and lack sincerity in negotiations.
Meta did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.
Italy's communications regulator AGCOM had established a method for calculating fair compensation for publishers in 2023, but Meta challenged it, arguing that it conflicted with EU law.
In its preliminary ruling today, the European Court referred the case back to the Italian courts for decision, stating that Italy's requirement for publishers to receive fair compensation is indeed consistent with the EU Copyright Directive, which allows publishers to "authorize or prohibit" the use of their content by digital platforms.
The European Court emphasized that Italy's imposition of relevant obligations on platform operators helps achieve a fair balance between business freedom and the protection of intellectual property rights, media freedom, and diversity.
The court also believed that Italy's requirement for platforms to provide necessary data to publishers to calculate fair compensation is a "reasonable" measure.
The judgment pointed out that publishers are at a disadvantage in negotiations because only platforms like Meta possess sufficient data to assess the economic value of content. (Translated by Liu Wen-Yu) 1150512
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According to AFP, the case originated from a lawsuit filed by the Italian government with the European Court of Justice. Prior to this, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, challenged an Italian law requiring information service providers such as Meta or Google to negotiate with publishers and pay compensation for their content published on platforms.
In its judgment today, the court stated: "News content publishers are entitled to fair remuneration, provided that such remuneration constitutes consideration for the authorization to use their publications online."
The court also stated that publishers could choose to refuse authorization or provide free use rights for content.
The European Publishers Council (EPC) called this ruling "crucial" and said that it is particularly significant as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms extensively use news content.
Angela Mills Wade, Executive Director of the EPC, said that this important ruling helps publishers conduct fairer negotiations with large tech platforms in the future. These platforms often leverage their market dominance and lack sincerity in negotiations.
Meta did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.
Italy's communications regulator AGCOM had established a method for calculating fair compensation for publishers in 2023, but Meta challenged it, arguing that it conflicted with EU law.
In its preliminary ruling today, the European Court referred the case back to the Italian courts for decision, stating that Italy's requirement for publishers to receive fair compensation is indeed consistent with the EU Copyright Directive, which allows publishers to "authorize or prohibit" the use of their content by digital platforms.
The European Court emphasized that Italy's imposition of relevant obligations on platform operators helps achieve a fair balance between business freedom and the protection of intellectual property rights, media freedom, and diversity.
The court also believed that Italy's requirement for platforms to provide necessary data to publishers to calculate fair compensation is a "reasonable" measure.
The judgment pointed out that publishers are at a disadvantage in negotiations because only platforms like Meta possess sufficient data to assess the economic value of content. (Translated by Liu Wen-Yu) 1150512
Stand with facts, every sponsorship from you is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA “First-hand News” APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcasted, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.