EU's top court adviser sides with Italy in Meta Platforms dispute
Empower your mind, elevate your skills
EU member states have the right to impose their own measures to strengthen the position of publishers in their dealings with large online platforms as long as these do not undermine freedom of contract, an adviser to the EU's highest court said on Thursday.The European Union's Court of Justice (CJEU) is handling a dispute between Facebook owner Meta and the Italian communications authority AGCOM, over a fee the US tech giant has to pay publishers in Italy for using snippets of their news articles.Meta had questioned whether such national measures are compatible with rights already granted to publishers under the EU copyright legislation But CJEU Advocate General Maciej Szpunar said the rights the EU had intended to give to publishers went beyond only allowing them to oppose the use of their material if they were not paid for them."Their purpose is to establish the conditions under which those publications are actually used, while allowing publishers to receive a fair share of the revenues derived by platforms from that use," he said."The limitations introduced pursue a public interest recognised by the EU legislature: strengthening the economic viability of the press, a key pillar of democracy."However Szpunar said the Italian regulator should keep in mind contractual freedom."The powers conferred on AGCOM - including the definition of benchmark criteria for determining remuneration, the resolution of disagreements and the monitoring of the obligation to provide information - are permissible if they are limited to assistance and do not deprive the parties of their contractual freedom," he said.The court, which usually follows the majority of recommendations by the advocate-general, will rule in the coming months.The case is C-797/23 Meta Platforms Ireland (Fair compensation).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
India awards 862,000 TPA green hydrogen capacity, eyes 10% of global demand
India has awarded 862,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) of green hydrogen production capacity to 19 companies under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Naik announced at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Green Hydrogen Summit 2025 on Tuesday. Speaking at the event in New Delhi, Naik outlined India's ambition to capture about 10% of the global green hydrogen demand, projected to exceed 100 million metric tonnes by 2030. 'We want to make India not only a major producer but also a global hub for green hydrogen exports,' he said. The government has also allocated 3,000 megawatts of electrolyser manufacturing capacity to 15 companies, Naik added. The minister highlighted India's renewable energy capacity as a foundation for its hydrogen plans. As of June 2025, India's cumulative renewable energy capacity stood at 237 gigawatts (GW), including 119 GW from solar, 52 GW from wind, and 49 GW from large hydro. Including 8.78 GW of nuclear power, non-fossil fuel sources account for more than half of India's total installed generation capacity. 'This is a matter of immense pride that we have achieved this key NDC target five years ahead of schedule,' Naik said, reiterating the target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. Industry leaders at the summit underscored recent developments. Rajat Seksaria, Chair of FICCI's Green Hydrogen Committee and CEO of Adani New Industries, highlighted three key steps the government has taken to support the green hydrogen industry: the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the ongoing green ammonia auction, and the government's continued engagement with the sector. Vipul Tuli, Chair of FICCI's Renewable Energy CEOs Committee and Chairman of Sembcorp India, pointed out a shift in the cost dynamics of green hydrogen. 'In one of the global tenders, green hydrogen has actually come out cheaper than blue hydrogen. This is a very significant development,' he said. However, he cautioned that the industry should focus on sustainable, long-term commitments rather than just chasing low prices. On international cooperation, Ewa Suwara, Chargé d'affaires of the EU Delegation to India, said that following the second India-EU Green Hydrogen Forum in Rotterdam in May 2025, both sides had agreed to establish a Hydrogen Task Force. 'Both the EU and India are well aware of the potential of green hydrogen in addressing today's and tomorrow's energy challenges,' she said. During the summit, the minister also released the FICCI-EY Green Hydrogen Report: India's Green Hydrogen Ecosystem. The report emphasises the critical role of demand from hard-to-abate industries like refining, steel, aviation, and fertilisers in creating a sustainable green hydrogen market. It further outlines priority use-cases, procurement models, cost dynamics, and actionable steps to stimulate demand.
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
Zelenskyy Meets Trump as EU and NATO Leaders Gather at White House
Zelenskyy Trump meeting, which also included crucial European Union( EU) and Nato leaders rally, marks a turning point in the tone of US tactfulness towards Ukraine. Meeting Zelenskyy visit photos: A Change in US Diplomacy With Ukraine Europeans such as British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were delighted at the meeting – which was conducted in a much more amiable atmosphere than Zelensky's previous encounter at the White House. The main result is the potential for face-to-face meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky and, potentially, Trump. A Kremlin spokesman, Yuri Ushakov, issued a noncommittal statement on Monday evening which merely said it was "worthwhile" to "explore the possibility of raising the level of representatives" from the Russian and Ukrainian negotiating teams. 'We're auspicious about the conversations we've had moment. We have a lot of work to do,' British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters after the meeting. European leaders also reiterated their support for Ukraine, with a focus on strong security guarantees, but there were differences with Zelenskyy on whether a ceasefire was needed for further talks. Plans for a Peace Deal President Trump also reiterated his commitment to a peace deal with Russia, despite ruling out an immediate ceasefire. He suggested a possible trilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy to work towards direct negotiations. Zelenskyy, for his part, said he was ready to hold direct talks with Putin, but US diplomacy warned that the road ahead would be difficult. Offering Apologies to Melania Trump In a personal letter to Melania Trump, Zelenskyy responded to the First Lady's recent open letter to Putin calling for an end to the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy wrote to the former First Lady thanking her for 'your heartfelt words and support' in a letter delivered to the EU leaders White House on Friday, offering his own apology. The Zelenskyy-Trump meeting with EU and NATO leaders shows a significant shift in the diplomatic approach of the US towards Ukraine.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
How Google plans to ‘change' Play Store to avoid future fines in Europe
Google has announced a series of proposed changes to its Play Store in a move aimed at appeasing European Union (EU) regulators and avoiding hefty future penalties. These adjustments come in the wake of a stern warning from EU watchdogs in March, who accused Google of stifling competition by preventing third-party developers from directing customers to make app purchases outside the Android ecosystem. According to a report by Bloomberg, the proposed overhaul is designed to make it easier for developers to guide users away from the Play Store for transactions. This new policy will apply across 30 European countries. According to Google, apps will now be permitted to direct users to the web to complete purchases. Google Play Store adjustments to have revised conditions However, this shift is not without new conditions, as Google will introduce a revised fee structure to account for its operational costs, the report added. Under the new model, 'initial acquisition fees' for developers will see a reduction from 10% of transaction costs down to 3%. Despite this reduction, the company will implement a tiered fee structure for software makers. Google has also voiced concerns that allowing users to transact outside the Play Store's 'secure environment' could potentially lead to 'serious security threats.' Clare Kelly, Google's senior competition counsel, commented on the changes, stating, 'While we still have concerns that these changes could expose Android users to harmful content and make the app experience worse, we're updating our External Offers Program for the EU with revised fees and more options for Android developers' following extensive discussions with the European Commission. Apple App Store implemented similar adjustments earlier this year, even while pursuing a legal challenge against the regulatory clampdown. It is to be noted that to date, only Apple and Meta Platforms Inc. have faced DMA fines, totaling €500 million ($583 million) and €200 million, respectively. Redmi 15 5G Unboxing and First Look: What's New and Key Specifications AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
