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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:40 pm
by Malcolm
Spain decides to be stupid. Why? They're trying to make Google pay for links to news stories. In response, Google shuts down their news service.
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:39 pm
by GORDON
They'll come crawling back when their ad revenues plummet. I would like to see Google tell them to GFTs.
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:53 pm
by TPRJones
...it would have to pay for providing links to news stories...
We aren't even talking about republishing here, it's linking. Of course shutting it down was their only choice. If this precedent took hold, the next step would be to try to get Google to pay out to everyone they link to in search results, which is just absurd. To do less would be a major disservice to their shareholders and to the integrity of the internet in general. Anyone who couldn't foresee that is a dumb.
With any luck, Spain will continue this fight and within a couple of years Google will be forced to stop linking to anything located in Spain. Other services will follow. Spain will disappear from the internet, and will continue to exist only in the history books and spoken of to frighten young children who will one day grow up to be government officials.
I have nothing against Spain personally, but one of these damn overreaching governments is going to eventually shoot itself in the foot so thoroughly that it is consequently erased from the Earth. I'm hoping someone does it soon, before it's us that does so.
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 9:01 pm
by Malcolm
but one of these damn overreaching governments is going to eventually shoot itself in the foot so thoroughly that it is consequently erased from the Earth. I'm hoping someone does it soon, before it's us that does so.
Dare you question the wars on poverty, drugs, terror, or other abstract things to which we funnel endless fortunes? Terrorist. Criminal. Abstract concepts have sharp, pointy edges. They must be fought until the bitter end, no matter the cost in cash, lives, common sense, false incarcerations, bullshit laws, wasted time, or actual justice.
Besides, Spain has an economy which hasn't been en vogue since the days of mercantilism. When the once vaunted king of the hill has descended the depths of a broke joke, they must resort to outright insanity or theft. Kind of funny because they got to the top by stealing wealth from other empires.
Edited By Malcolm on 1418695604
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 6:17 am
by Vince
Google has deep pockets. Spain wants some of that money. That's all it is. This is just a less creative way to try to get some of it.