The EU is getting closer to introducing a controversial 'link tax' that would see internet giants such as Google and Facebook forced to pay for linking to press articles. Under the proposals, using a 'snippet' with headline, thumbnail picture and short excerpt would require a license - as would media monitoring services, fact-checking services and bloggers. The plan for a link tax, also known as ancillary rights, has already made it through several parliamentary committees. And it is now up in front of the Legal Affairs Committee - whose head, Axel Voss, is all in favor. "Voss's latest amendments would make the link tax an inalienable right, that news publishers cannot waive even if they choose to," the Electronic Frontier Foundation points out.

Source: Forbes May 08, 2018 15:45 UTC