Meta Ordered to Pay Millions to Spanish Media in Landmark Copyright Ruling
Madrid,Spain – November 20,2025 – A Spanish court has mandated Meta Platforms to compensate Spanish media outlets millions of euros for unauthorized use of their copyrighted news content,marking a critically important victory for publishers and a potential turning point in the ongoing battle over digital copyright. The ruling, delivered today, stems from a collective action brought by the Association of Spanish Editors of Newspapers and Magazines (AEDP) and demands Meta pay approximately €25 million in damages.
The decision centers on Meta’s platforms – Facebook and Instagram – and their alleged failure to secure proper licensing agreements for displaying snippets of news articles. Spanish publishers argue that Meta profited from their content without fair compensation, impacting their revenue streams and undermining the sustainability of quality journalism. The court agreed, finding Meta liable for infringing copyright law and establishing a precedent for similar cases across Europe.This ruling follows years of escalating tensions between news organizations and tech giants over the value of news content shared on social media platforms.
The AEDP initiated the legal challenge in 2023, arguing that Meta benefitted considerably from the distribution of news content on its platforms, attracting users and generating advertising revenue without adequately compensating the original creators. The court’s judgment requires Meta to negotiate licensing agreements with spanish news publishers for future use of their content.
while the exact amount of compensation is still being finalized, the court has indicated the €25 million figure reflects the economic harm caused by Meta’s actions. Meta has stated it intends to appeal the decision, maintaining its position that it acts as a platform for sharing information and does not directly profit from news content. The case underscores the growing global movement to address the imbalance of power between news publishers and technology companies in the digital age, with similar legal battles unfolding in countries like Australia and Canada.
