Meta appeals French ruling on news publisher remuneration

Meta has filed an appeal against a decision by the French Competition Authority regarding the remuneration of news publishers for the use of their content. A hearing is scheduled for September 17 before the Paris Court of Appeal.

The dispute centers on neighboring rights, a mechanism intended to compensate media outlets for their content. On July 8, the Competition Authority ruled that Meta’s practices could constitute an “abuse of a dominant position,” stating that the company’s refusal to negotiate effectively caused “serious harm” to the French press and increased its financial precariousness.

The legal action follows the expiration of agreements with two major collective organizations: the Alliance de la presse d'information générale (Apig) and the Société des Droits Voisins de la Presse (DVP). Since these agreements expired in late 2024 and early 2025, hundreds of publications and news agencies have reportedly ceased receiving payments from Meta, despite their content still being distributed on Meta’s platforms.

A Meta spokesperson contested the decision, arguing that the law was not correctly applied and that the requirements for interim measures were not met. The company maintains it has engaged in constructive dialogue and has proposed extending previous agreements.