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The European Union took a massive leap forward in protecting news content<\/a> on March 26, when the European Parliament voted to adopt<\/a> the long-awaited Copyright Directive. The Directive includes a provision that grants European news publishers an independent right to protect their content online against unauthorized uses by online platforms. The Publishers\u2019 Right marks a major positive development for news publishers and the sustainability of high-quality journalism in Europe for two main reasons.<\/p>\n First, European news publishers are currently unable to effectively protect their content online. Though other content industries, such as music and film studios, have certain rights that allow them to protect their works and negotiate deals with companies, news publishers in Europe have never enjoyed these rights. The new Copyright Directive grants news publishers similar rights to those enjoyed for years by other content producers.<\/p>\n Second, the Directive levels the playing field between news publishers and the online platforms, who regularly use \u2013 and sell advertising against \u2013 publishers\u2019 news content without paying them. While \u201cindividual words\u201d and \u201cvery short extracts\u201d are still free for anyone to use, online platforms and news aggregators \u2013 such as Google News \u2013 can no longer simply rely on being able to exploit news publishers\u2019 content, unless the publisher decides to waive its right to demand compensation. The Directive provides a market-based approach that forces tech companies to find mutually beneficial arrangements with news publishers, thereby protecting the financial future of news publishers in the EU.<\/p>\n And there lies the crux of the Publishers\u2019 Right. The Directive is about more than adding to publishers\u2019 bottom lines; it is about receiving equitable compensation for their work and making sure the online ecosystem works for all. Under this Directive, European communities will continue to receive high-quality reporting from news outlets they trust. Without it, the online platforms would continue to go unchecked and the future of quality journalism would remain uncertain.<\/p>\n The Directive is narrowly drafted to only affect those who aim to financially benefit from news content. In addition, all parties have rights under the Directive \u2013 publishers are not required to license their news or demand compensation for its use, and tech companies don\u2019t have to publish certain content if they choose not to. Private and non-commercial users don\u2019t need licensing agreements to share content, and hyperlinks remain free for all. The Directive simply protects against the most flagrant abuses of online content.<\/p>\n