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French News Agency Sues Google News

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."

6 of 441 comments (clear)

  1. Most web-litigious country? by spaeschke · · Score: 0, Troll
    Does France keep Johnny Cochrane on speed-dial for all things web related, or is it just that they get reported on more?

    They've gone after Yahoo, Google (multiple times now), and even taken swings at that incarnation of evil; Project Gutenberg. This has got to be the SCO of nation-states.

  2. France bashing by doudou42 · · Score: 0, Troll

    Only 15 replies and 5 criticizing France or french people...
    Why so much hate ? This story has nothing to do with countries but with companies !

    Do we hear 'America sucks' on every Microsoft or SCO story ?

    Please, don't mix anything...

  3. Sick and tired of these law suits by Rac3r5 · · Score: 0, Troll

    Why is it that everytime someone in France decides to sue Google. If I were google, I would just say shove it, no more business with you France. Toodles...

  4. Napoleonic Code by putko · · Score: 1, Troll

    Continental Europe has a legal code derived from the Napoleonic code.

    It is particularly irrational and inflexible, and nowhere near as abstract as English Common Law.

    E.g. people in Continental Europe need to carry ID papers with them when in public. Cops can stop you and interrogate you -- because. The law says you are free, but you better carry ID. And watch your mouth (you might break the law).

    Thanks Napoleon!

    So it is entirely "reasonable", to the mind of a Continental European, that a respectable media company like AFP can sue to stop some upstart from doing something novel and innovative, just because technology allows it -- the law is inherently pro-status quo.

    In Germany, a British retailer dared to have a sale. This was deemed illegal -- the state argued (on behalf of the German retailers) that the temporary nature of the sale would COMPEL Germans to buy more stuff. Really it was just that German retailers can't compete with Anglo-retailer Kung Fu, and the state was happy to do their bidding, with the result that the German consumer lost out.

    --
    http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/when_to_s tone_your_children/dt21_18a.html
  5. Re:AFP will be the ones to lose by Ohreally_factor · · Score: 0, Troll

    Apple is suing their fan base? Wow, that's news to me! Could you give me some details on this? I've been using Macs since the early 90s; should I keep my eyes open for a process server?

    Or were you referring to Apple suing Fiona Apple for trademark infringement?

    --
    It's not offtopic, dumbass. It's orthogonal.
  6. Re:AFP will be the ones to lose by cotyx · · Score: 0, Troll

    by Anonymous Coward.... Well, we all know how the French fight wars...we shouldn't expect any different. Im sure you got some french blood inside your body.