Google Set to Launch Licensing Program to Pay Publishers for ‘High-Quality Content’

Google today announced it is starting a licensing program to pay publishers for some content. However, the company was quick to note that it will only pay publishers for “high-quality content”  that will launch later this year.

Brad Bender, VP Product Management in a released wrote, “A vibrant news industry matters—perhaps now more than ever, as people look for information they can count on in the midst of a global pandemic and growing concerns about racial injustice around the world. But these events are happening at a time when the news industry is also being challenged financially. We care deeply about providing access to information and supporting the publishers who report on these important topics. 

“Today, we are announcing a licensing program to pay publishers for high-quality content for a new news experience launching later this year. This program will help participating publishers monetize their content through an enhanced storytelling experience that lets people go deeper into more complex stories, stay informed, and be exposed to a world of different issues and interests. We will start with publishers in a number of countries around the globe, with more to come soon.”

Google also said that the licensing program will pay for free access to some paywalled articles on a publisher’s site. By letting readers see these articles, publishers have the opportunity to grow their audience.

The company also disclosed that the program will launch on Google News and Discover and will kick off with publishers from Germany, Australia, and Brazil and expand to more countries soon.