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· Posted on
February 21, 2024

Monkey see, monkey do: US and New Zealand considering new laws to force big tech to pay its media companies

Australia's deal forced big tech companies like Google and Facebook to pay news publishers for their content and now, other countries want their slice too.

What's the key learning?

  • The deal was all about a new bargaining code that would force Google and Facebook to pay news publishers for their content in Australia and it ended up injecting over $200m into Australian journalism per year.
  • New Zealand and the US are also looking to roll out legislation that will similar to that of Australia's.
  • Negotiating with other governments and thousands of publishers has the potential to cost big tech billions of dollars per year, but the Australia deal sent a powerful message to other governments that you can negotiate with big tech.

👉 Background: You may remember in February last year when almost all Facebook pages for Australian news sites were wiped off the face of the Facebook. That deal was all about a new bargaining code that would force Google and Facebook to pay news publishers for their content in Australia.

👉 What happened: In the end, the deal struck has injected over $200m into Australian journalism per year. And now, other countries want their media industries to get a slice too.

👉 What else: New Zealand is looking to roll out legislation that will be similar to Australia. And the US of A has explored this too. And this is exactly why big tech companies fought so hard in Australia - to avoid this precedent being set.

What's the key learning?

💡 One landmark deal can create a precedent for many new landmark deals. The main pushback from big tech companies was that this deal in Australia could set a precedent.

💡 Negotiating with other governments and thousands of publishers has the potential to cost big tech billions of dollars per year. But the Australia deal sent a powerful message to other governments that you can negotiate with big tech.

💡So it makes sense why countries like the US, NZ, Canada and others are shaking their tin cans and hoping big tech will tip in.

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