Poland Accuses Google of Unfair Negotiation Practices with News Publishers
Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has accused Google of abusing its dominant market position in negotiations with news publishers over content remuneration. The allegations center on Google’s handling of deals for displaying articles and snippets in its Search, News, and Discover services, where UOKiK claims the tech giant failed to provide essential data for fair negotiations.
UOKiK President Tomasz Chrostny criticized Google for creating an information imbalance that tilted negotiations in its favor. He emphasized that big tech companies cannot operate above the law, describing the lack of data as making negotiations ‘illusory’ and favoring Google’s terms. The case stems from a 2024 amendment to Polish copyright law, which requires platforms to compensate publishers and provide necessary information for determining fair remuneration.
According to UOKiK, Google proposed remuneration rates without disclosing legally required details, such as revenue generated from press publications and the parameters used to calculate the rates. This asymmetry prevented publishers from evaluating offers or proposing their own terms. Google Poland responded by stating it was reviewing UOKiK’s decision and highlighted its licensing deals with over 70 Polish publications.
UOKiK clarified that its investigation is separate from the European Commission’s 2025 probe into Google’s use of publisher content in AI services. The ongoing Polish investigation focuses solely on Google’s Search, News, and Discover services and could result in fines of up to 10% of Google’s turnover if a violation is found.