London - Google is to shut down its news service in Spain ahead of new copyright laws to make it pay for some content.
The internet search giant would be forced to pay Spanish news organisations for stories shown on Google News under legislation due to be introduced on January 1.
But Google said the intellectual property law made its news operation “unsustainable” and it will close the Spanish service on December 16.
The company will also block Spanish reports from more than 70 international editions – which effectively bars most of Latin America from seeing that content.Articles can still be accessed from Spanish publications using Google’s standard search function, however.
Google News boss Richard Gingras said the decision was made ‘”with real sadness”. The firm added in a statement: “As Google News shows no ads and makes no revenue, this approach is simply unsustainable.” - Daily Mail