(AP photo)STRASBOURG: European Union lawmakers voted on Wednesday to force Google, Facebook and other technology firms to share more revenues with European media, publishers and other creative industries in a shake-up of copyright rules. Of the lawmakers, 438 voted in favour while 226 were against, with 39 abstentions. The next step is negotiations with the Commission and the 28 EU countries to reconcile their different positions before existing copyright laws are amended. "In the end, artists, European platforms and small start-ups are left empty-handed. The majority in the European Parliament has failed to protect copyright interests and freedom on the internet with fair licences," Reda said.

Source: Bangkok Post September 12, 2018 14:15 UTC