[jackhammer]

Maybe they could circumvent the law by signing a contact where google pays the news organisations, but they in term pay google back for the "exposure". That way both parties would comply with the law and they would still maintain the status quo.

[zanny]

Except as Google is demonstrating by just outright closing Google News Spain, they don't have to put up with that bullshit. They are so big in so many countries dropping one won't do anything for their bottom line (especially when Google News itself makes them no money directly) and the news lobby in Spain gets to rip itself a new one destroying itself out of greed.

[PhantomGremlin]

> they don't have to put up with that bullshit

Exactly. For Google's long term credibility and success, they must close Google News Spain (at least temporarily).

Spain is both small enough and large enough to serve as a convenient demonstration of Google's power. Going forward, fear will keep the local publishers in line. Fear of the wrath of Google.

[judk]

Wrath? If you charge me a fee for driving a bus to your address, I will stop driving there. Do you fear me?