The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) granted Google a five-year exemption from the Online News Act, paving the way for payments of $100 million to Canadian media.
Google will thus have to pay $100 million annually, indexed to inflation, to the Canadian Journalism Collective (CCJ) within 60 days following this decision. The collective will then distribute the funds equitably to eligible Canadian media outlets.
The Online News Act, which came into force last year, aims to ensure that online platforms that make Canadian content available fairly compensate Canadian news companies.
The Regulations allow online platforms to request an exemption from the requirement to negotiate individually with media outlets if they enter into an agreement with an organization representing a broad range of Canadian media outlets.
Google’s exemption comes with certain conditions, including a requirement to allow additional news businesses to join the CCJ. The CRTC will also require annual reports to ensure that the collective operates transparently.
Facebook still blocks content from Canadian media and refuses to comply with the new law.
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