Search BizReport
News by Topic
Marketing
- Advertising
- Search Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Loyalty Marketing
- Mobile Marketing
- Social Marketing
- Viral Marketing
- Trends & Ideas
Beyond Marketing
BizReport : Law & Regulation : February 14, 2007
Google´s search results violate Belgian copyright laws, Google is fined
A Belgian court has ruled that internet search giant Google violated copyright and data laws by posting bits of news stories and links to Belgian newspapers without permission. The ruling could change the way online search engines post search results.
Because most Belgian papers allow reading of current news but charge for the reading of archived stories, the court also ruled Google violated the country's data-storage law. Google archives all stories, even those for which papers would charge.
Google has been ordered to remove the Belgian content, links and photos from their Google News website. They also fined Google $32,390 for every day the content is not removed. Google says they will appeal the ruling, saying the news service is legal and that they are providing a service for those newspapers by driving traffic to their websites through searches.
The newspapers say that is untrue, that the traffic and revenue generated are to Google's benefit and not their own.
The Belgian court issued a similar ruling in September when it said some searches from search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN infringed on copyright laws.
Google also faces a federal lawsuit in the United States. Agence France Presse is arguing that because Google's search results list headlines, lead sentences and photos, it is infringing on copyright.
Tags: copyright, search, search engines
Subscribe to BizReport
Please enter your e-mail here:
Latest Headlines
- ExactTarget: Get email addresses while consumers shop
- A new use for online ads: Calculations
- OPA releases new ad units
- EA offers gaming ad advice
- Jivox adds map-targeting and creation tools to ad suite
- Ads for cheaper mobile plans?
- MerchantCircle offers city-centric coupons
- Catalyst: Googlers like Bing but won't remain loyal
Featured White Papers:

Social Media Marketing: 12 Essential Tips for Success
Learn how to effectively engage customer communities with a new, social marketing mix. >>
Featured Magazines:
Featured Research
- NEW! B-to-B Lead Generation Handbook
Special $200.00 discount for BizReport readers only!
Improve your results and the quality of your leads - download the full report right now.
Featured Financing Solution
- Small Business Loans Vs, Business Cash Advance
How can merchants access working capital quickly? A business cash advance offers small business owners fast financing based on credit card sales volume without the hassles normally associated with business bank loans or equipment leasing.