Google files appeal for lost Belgian copyright case while also discussing case with Copiepresse

Just months after Google Inc lost a copyright lawsuit to Copiepresse, an association of Belgian French- and German-language publishers, in a Brussels Court of First Instance where it had to cough up a 25,000 Euros ($32,500) per day penalty for everyday it carried links (which Google never paid), the search giant is back to appealing the court's verdict that “it (Google) violated Belgian copyright law”, Marketwatch reports.

Apparently, the two are currently in talks to come to a negotiation and wants to delay the appeal date, previously set for July 17. Google spokeswoman Rachel Whetstone commented, "If you want to keep open the ability to appeal, you have to lodge an appeal by a certain date. We're having discussions with Copiepresse and we're pleased to be discussing with them -let's see what happens." On the other hand, Margaret Boribon Copiepresse Secretary-general remarked, "The two parties will ask the judge to delay the calendar of the appeal to allow for negotiations."

Back in May, Google and Copiepresse agreed on how copyrighted French- and German-language news articles may be published. This let Google to “publish snippets and links to the articles in question, since the publishers are now using Google's "noarchive" option which means the articles can only be seen by going to the newspaper's own Web site. The "noarchive" tag also stops Google from keeping older stories in its files.”

Google never paid the fines and has not even paid up yet for publishing links to Copiepresse, as the latter had earlier demanded.

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