Google has maintained that it didn’t breach copyright rules when it only carried the headline and opening sentences of newspaper content.

Recently though, Google has come under attack. It lost a case against the Belgian press in February, and had to settle specific agreements with Agence France-Presse and Associated Press. Sam Zell, the new owner of Tribune Co., has also made explicit his discontent with Google’s use of his papers’ content.

The Herald suggests that the deals have been kept secret so that Google doesn’t have to make similar agreements with other publishers.

At the same time, more and more newspaper groups are reaching agreements with Google. It’s becoming harder and harder to say which side will come out victorious of the copyright battle, but both sides will certainly have to find a new compromise.

Source: Sunday Herald through Tech Crunch