Copyright reform - Oettinger open to Spanish 'Google tax' model

Oettinger has praised ancillary copyright laws several times in recent months, as the European Commission gets ready to propose EU copyright legislation this fall. He was speaking yesterday at a meeting of the European Parliament’s culture committee. Asked about the prospect of a European ancillary copyright law, Oettinger replied: “I’m open to it.” Ancillary copyright laws force internet search engines to pay fees to news publishers when they post snippets from articles in search results. “In Spain, the development and the awareness process seem to be further along than in Germany. We’re assessing that and will integrate it into our copyright proposal,” Oettinger said. “Whether we have a European ancillary copyright law or not? I think it’s possible and imaginable but I’m not committed to it. http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/copyright-reform-oettinger-open-spanish-google-tax-model-316314