Star Metro - French court rules Meta must negotiate over rights payments

In two rulings, the Paris Appeals Court found that Meta's conduct had caused "serious and immediate harm to the press sector" in France, affirming the position of the country's anti-monopoly body.

The regulatory authority in July ordered the parent company of Facebook and Instagram to "negotiate in good faith" with French media on neighbouring rights payments -- a form of copyright payments for use of information on social media platforms.

It said Meta's conduct could be considered "abuse of a dominant position".

Two associations of media groups had complained to the Competition Authority following a lack of progress in talks to renew deals of neighbouring rights payments.

The regulator noted that Meta was continuing to use the content of the media groups but not making payments to them since their deals lapsed.

The Paris Appeals Court found that Meta had in the negotiations with publishers provided only fragmentary, opaque and unverifiable data about its use of media content.

The DVP association of publishers, of which AFP is a member, called the rulings a "major development" and urged Meta to fully meet its obligations to media.

A Meta spokesman said "we are disappointed with the Paris Appeals Court ruling" and was considering what steps to take.

Meta is in the midst of another battle with media over new user terms and conditions that force professional users to give it the right to collect content -- including content behind a paywall -- and use it for AI training among other things.

O.Lessard--SMC