Norway Now a Problem for Google News, Too
It seems that all is not confetti and balloons with the launch of the new Google Norway News. However, it's not exactly another "Belgium" problem. I think there's a bit of hope that the newspaper folks in Norway are more understanding when it comes to technology, their websites and being listed in Google.
The issue at hand is the photos that Google's Norway News portal is showing along with the news clippings. It seems that the Norwegian Media Businesses' Association (MBL), has sent a letter to Google demanding for the use of the pictures in the Norwegian version of Google News to cease. 
Unfortunately I cannot translate what the Journalisten is reporting, but Media Culpa quotes the article:
Terje Bringedal of PK tells Journalisten.no:
"If you haven't got permission from the copyright holder, it's just pure theft."
The major reason for the complaint from MBL, is that according to international intellectual property rights regulations, these photos are protected and therefor the photographs can't be published, printed or used freely by others without the expressed permission of the "rights" holder. For this reason the MBL's action is receiving the full backing of the Pressefotografenes Klubb (PK), the Press Photographers' Association in Norway.
This will be interesting to watch for developments and how Google handles this situation. Where there's actually international regulations regarding the issue at hand, Google needs to be mindful of the established laws. Unlike in Belgium where there are no established laws and Google really slipped up when it didn't show up for the hearing regarding issue. Google's due back in Belgium court soon for its appeal to the first ruling.
So I wonder in all the Yahoo News today I wonder if this Google News is going to quietly slip by?
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