Google to pursue licensing deals with global publishers

According to Google’s holding company Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, the tech major is pursuing several licensing deals with publishers across the world. Pichai said that Google is working towards striking some of these conversations in India as well.

The technocrat termed India as incredibly important to Google, and said he also hoped to participate in the proper legislative dialogue to address the Indian government’s rethink over immunity accorded to social media firms for content on their platforms.

Pichai said, “We are deeply committed to the Indian economy and the digitalization of India's economy. We have announced a $10 billion India Development Fund and, and so will continue to play a role constructively there.”

Google has signed licensing deals with 300 news publishers in Europe including Germany, Hungary, France and Netherlands. Last year, the company announced a package of investments to support India’s news ecosystem, including launching Google News Showcase - its new product experience for readers and licensing program for news publishers. The Google News Showcase, launched last year, has signed deals with more than 80 partners representing more than 130 publications, including national, regional and local news organizations.

In July 2020, the tech giant announced its plans to invest $10 billion in India over the next 5-7 years through equity investments, partnerships and other arrangements to “accelerate digitization” in the country.

It had said that the fund would focus on areas such as enabling affordable access to the Internet and to information for every Indian in their own language; building new products and services in segments like consumer tech, education, health and agriculture; empowering businesses, especially small and medium ones, to transform digitally; leveraging technology and artificial intelligence for digital literacy, outbreak predictions and support for rural economies.