Six Years On: The Unfulfilled Promise of EU Directive 790/2019
Industry ExpressWednesday, Jun 11, 2025 4:50 pm ET

Six years after the adoption of EU Directive 790/2019, which introduced neighboring rights for press publishers for the online use of publications by major , the results remain disheartening. The Directive, intended to enhance the bargaining power of publishers and ensure fair compensation for journalists, has largely failed to deliver on its promises. Even in countries like Greece, where legislation implementing the Directive has granted a specific percentage to journalists from revenues generated by the use of neighboring rights, internet giants have still not paid a single cent.
The reasons for this failure are multifaceted. Digital platforms, under the pretext of a lack of transparency in the calculation of revenues, have engaged in intense lobbying of governments and leveraged their monopoly power to refuse payment for the use of publishers' neighboring rights. They steadfastly refuse to share even a small amount of their enormous profits with creators and related beneficiaries, who are seeing their incomes shrink as a result of the dominance of internet giants. Although news constitutes a significant part of the total online content, the platforms claim that the news media's contribution to their immense profits is insignificant.
The situation is even more dire for individual journalists. Even in cases where large media companies have reached agreements with platforms, journalists are not receiving their share of the remuneration and are not even aware of the amounts received by their . The mechanisms for negotiating and collecting remuneration are blatantly unfair to journalists, leaving them vulnerable to exploitative practices by both digital platforms and their own employers.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Executive Committee, meeting in Montreal, Canada, on June 9th, 2025, voted unanimously to take action in the European Commission's process to monitor the implementation of EU Directive 790/2019 in member states. The IFJ calls for meaningful measures, including the creation of a collective management mechanism to collect fees for the online use of works protected by authors' rights. This mechanism would ensure that journalists are protected from unlicensed use of their work and from exploitative practices by employers.
The failure of EU Directive 790/2019 to deliver fair compensation for journalists highlights the broader systemic issues at play. Digital platforms, with their vast resources and lobbying power, have been able to manipulate the regulatory environment to their advantage. This is not just a failure of the Directive but a symptom of a larger problem: the unchecked power of tech giants in shaping the digital landscape.
The IFJ's call for action is a step in the right direction, but it is just the beginning. To truly address the imbalance of power between digital platforms and journalists, we need a comprehensive overhaul of the regulatory framework. This includes clear definitions and guidelines for what constitutes an "appropriate share" of revenue, transparency in licensing agreements, regulatory oversight and audits, public reporting and disclosure, and bargaining codes and information-sharing mechanisms.
In conclusion, the unfulfilled promise of EU Directive 790/2019 serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by journalists in the digital age. It is a call to action for policymakers, regulators, and society at large to ensure that the creators of content are fairly compensated for their work. The future of journalism depends on it.
The reasons for this failure are multifaceted. Digital platforms, under the pretext of a lack of transparency in the calculation of revenues, have engaged in intense lobbying of governments and leveraged their monopoly power to refuse payment for the use of publishers' neighboring rights. They steadfastly refuse to share even a small amount of their enormous profits with creators and related beneficiaries, who are seeing their incomes shrink as a result of the dominance of internet giants. Although news constitutes a significant part of the total online content, the platforms claim that the news media's contribution to their immense profits is insignificant.
The situation is even more dire for individual journalists. Even in cases where large media companies have reached agreements with platforms, journalists are not receiving their share of the remuneration and are not even aware of the amounts received by their . The mechanisms for negotiating and collecting remuneration are blatantly unfair to journalists, leaving them vulnerable to exploitative practices by both digital platforms and their own employers.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Executive Committee, meeting in Montreal, Canada, on June 9th, 2025, voted unanimously to take action in the European Commission's process to monitor the implementation of EU Directive 790/2019 in member states. The IFJ calls for meaningful measures, including the creation of a collective management mechanism to collect fees for the online use of works protected by authors' rights. This mechanism would ensure that journalists are protected from unlicensed use of their work and from exploitative practices by employers.
The failure of EU Directive 790/2019 to deliver fair compensation for journalists highlights the broader systemic issues at play. Digital platforms, with their vast resources and lobbying power, have been able to manipulate the regulatory environment to their advantage. This is not just a failure of the Directive but a symptom of a larger problem: the unchecked power of tech giants in shaping the digital landscape.
The IFJ's call for action is a step in the right direction, but it is just the beginning. To truly address the imbalance of power between digital platforms and journalists, we need a comprehensive overhaul of the regulatory framework. This includes clear definitions and guidelines for what constitutes an "appropriate share" of revenue, transparency in licensing agreements, regulatory oversight and audits, public reporting and disclosure, and bargaining codes and information-sharing mechanisms.
In conclusion, the unfulfilled promise of EU Directive 790/2019 serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by journalists in the digital age. It is a call to action for policymakers, regulators, and society at large to ensure that the creators of content are fairly compensated for their work. The future of journalism depends on it.
Disclaimer: The news articles available on this platform are generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligence and may not have been reviewed or fact checked by human editors. While we make reasonable efforts to ensure the quality and accuracy of the content, we make no representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the truthfulness, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided. It is your sole responsibility to independently verify any facts, statements, or claims prior to acting upon them. Ainvest Fintech Inc expressly disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, or harm arising from the use of or reliance on AI-generated content, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.
Comments
No comments yet