Google has done some sort of deal with some groups and there is no mention of money changing hands, though presumably it will. Bloomberg reports:
The agreement removes two of five groups from a Brussels lawsuit that seeks to prevent Google from linking to Belgian newspaper articles for free. Company spokeswoman Jessica Powell declined to give the terms of the agreements with copyright agencies Sofam, which represents 3,700 photographers, and Scam, which represents journalists.
This is separate from the lawsuit brought by Belgian newspaper groups.
The report adds: "Shares of Google fell $3.01 to $505 at 1:00 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. They had risen 22 percent this year before today."
Comment: Sounds like bad news, and it will be interesting to see if Google can put a "don't be evil" spin on it. I'd much rather Google had just removed all references to Belgium from all Google sites, including maps.
However, Google had already sold the pass by agreeing to pay Associated Press for content, so every other news supplier might as well get in line for a hand-out. Norway and Denmark are next.
