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  • Microsoft has joined forces with European publishers in pushing regulators to require big tech platforms to seek arbitration in disputes over sharing revenue with news organisations
  • They claim that the European Union’s overhaul of copyright rules in 2019 are not sufficient
  • The call comes as E.U. lawmakers prepare for discussions with the European Commission and member nations on how to rein in the power of U.S. tech giants
  • Last week, Facebook’s decided to impose a news ban in Australia in protest against a forthcoming law that would require online platforms to pay news outlets for content
  • A final vote after the so-called third reading of the bill is expected in the next few days

Microsoft has joined forces with European publishers to champion new laws that would force big tech platforms to pay for news media.

They claim that the European Union’s overhaul of copyright rules in 2019, which force Google and other online services to sign licensing agreements with musicians, authors and news publishers to use their work, is not sufficient.

“This initiative is a logical next step,” said Casper Klynge, Vice President of Microsoft, who noted that the company already shares revenue with publishers through its Microsoft News product.

The call by Microsoft, the European Magazine Media Association, European Newspaper Publishers Association, European Publishers Council and News Media Europe comes as E.U. lawmakers prepare for discussions with the European Commission and E.U. countries regarding methods to rein in the power of U.S. tech giants.

“Even though press publishers have a neighbouring right, they might not have the economic strength to negotiate fair and balanced agreements with these gatekeeper tech companies, who might otherwise threaten to walk away from negotiations or exit markets entirely,” they said in a statement.

It comes after Facebook’s decision last week to impose a news ban in Australia in protest against a forthcoming law that would require online platforms to reach deals to pay news outlets for content, or agree on a price through arbitration.

Despite the news ban, however, there will be no amendments to the laws.

“The bill as it stands … meets the right balance,” said Minister for Finance Simon Birmingham.

The bill in its present form ensures “Australian-generated news content by Australian-generated news organisations can and should be paid for and done so in a fair and legitimate way.”

A final vote after the so-called third reading of the bill is expected in the next few days.

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