Google inks renewed media bargaining code deals – with a catch

Google has been quietly renewing deals worth tens of millions of dollars with Australian publishers under the News Media Bargaining Code – but has added a clause allowing it to cancel them after each year.

In contrast to Meta’s decision not to negotiate new terms with Australian news organisations, stripping some $70 million a year from the industry, Google has publicly committed to re-sign its commercial agreements under the code. It is estimated to pay more than $130 million a year.