The EU might reach compromise concerning levy on Google

The European Union is discussing “pragmatic solutions” on what would be the fairest outcome for intellectual property owners, publishers and the services offered by Google, writes Bloomberg News, quoting the EU’s digital economy chief.

“We are inviting all stakeholders to come to a fair solution and no doubt there are different interests, but at the end of the day we can come to fair compromises,” he said for Bloomberg.

When asked by reporters whether any solution could involve a levy on Google for its use of intellectual property, EU Digital Economy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger (in picture) said that a balance must be reached between all interest groups.

The first time Oettinger  put this issue on the table was in October.

According to a Financial Times piece posted on October 29,  at Google, Oettinger lashed out at Google and said he would consider hitting the US technology group with an EU levy for displaying copyright protected material.

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“If Google takes intellectual property from the EU, and makes use of it, then the EU can protect this property and impose a levy on Google for it,” Mr Oettinger told Handelsblatt, quoted by FT.

Otilia Haraga