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French News Agency Sues Google News

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the media-watchdogs dept.

n1ywb writes "CNN and others are reporting that 'News agency Agence France Presse has sued Google Inc., alleging the Web search leader includes AFP's photos, news headlines and stories on its news site without permission. The French news service is seeking damages of at least $17.5 million and an order barring Google News from displaying AFP photographs, news headlines or story leads, according to the suit filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.' This means they're suing in America this time, not France, which means Google might actually care if they lose."

5 of 441 comments (clear)

  1. Congratulations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    A completely content free post.

    And after the filters, a first post too!

    Amazing.

    Reading it is like eating cotton candy... at first you think there's something there, then its gone and you realize it never had content in the first place.

  2. the GTFO option by justins · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why is google still doing business in France anyway? With the recent lawsuits the most reasonable option seems to be to blacklist the entire country. Let them use msn and suffer.

    --
    Now before I get modded down, I be to remind whoever might read this that what I am saying is FACT. - bogaboga
  3. http://www.google.com/lawyers.txt by 0x461FAB0BD7D2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    User-agent: *
    Disallow: /lawsuit

  4. Re:AFP will be the ones to lose by iamvego · · Score: 1, Funny

    Even if you play devil's advocate, can they justifiably say they have lost over $17m in damages?

    So many companies destroy their image by suing over something which really doesn't damage them. They usually have to claim a lot from the court case to cover what they'll lose from off-put would-be customers. Apple are good at shooting themselves in the face.

    I wouldn't be surprised if this happened:

    Company A: "Company B is cool!"

    Company B: "RIGHT! We're gonna sue you for millions for using our name without our permission!"

    Company A: "But we thought.."

    Company B: "Well you thought wrong moron. Hasn't it cottoned on that we don't want anyone to like us as we're deluded enough to think all good publicity is lethal to our business."

    (word gets out about the suing and Company B sales hit rock bottom)

    Company B: "Hey, *you* caused this to happen by making us sue you. We're gonna sue you REAL good this time! That'll learn ya!"

    (company A folds)

    (next day, Company B folds)

  5. Re:Doesn't France have... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny



    The country is clearly run by madmen with no grasp of reality

    sorry are we talking about USA now ?