The publishers allege that X has failed to comply with a French law which has, since 2019, required online platforms such as X to negotiate with publishers on fair remuneration for use of their content.

Meta and Google are among the major technology companies which have already agreed to make regular payments to French news publishers for displaying their content.

So-called “neighbouring rights” were introduced in the 2019 EU Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, but are not currently enforced in most EU member states.

The copyright infringement lawsuit brought before a tribunal in Paris alleges that X has failed to comply with the law requiring the platform to negotiate, The Times reports.

“The revenue from these rights, with the investment that it would enable its beneficiaries to make, is a boost to the plurality, independence, and quality of the media, which are essential for freedom of expression and the right to information in our democratic society,” the publishers said in a joint statement.

A hearing is scheduled to take place on 15 May 2025.