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Why Poland’s Antitrust Regulator Is Investigating Google’s Publisher Deals

UOKiK alleges four Google-group companies mishandled negotiations over payment for Polish press content in Search, News and Discover. The proceeding is not a final ruling, and no fine has been announced.
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Poland’s competition regulator has accused four Google-group companies of suspected abuse of a dominant position in negotiations over payment for Polish press content used in Google Search, Google News and Google Discover. The allegations, announced on October 5, 2026, are not a final finding of infringement, and UOKiK has not announced a fine.

What did UOKiK accuse Google of?

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) says its concerns are about the conditions and transparency of negotiations with Polish press publishers—not whether a particular payment rate is fair. Under a 2024 amendment to Poland’s copyright law implementing the EU Digital Single Market copyright directive, publishers gained stronger grounds to seek remuneration for online use of press publications.

UOKiK says most Polish press publishers had not signed agreements with Google specifying the terms and remuneration for use of their publications. Its allegation is that, in negotiations with organizations representing publishers, Google did not provide information required to explain its proposed remuneration. The regulator says publishers were not shown how their publications were used and what revenue resulted, what parameters Google used to calculate remuneration, or documents that would let them verify the assumptions.

In UOKiK’s view, this information gap could prevent publishers from evaluating an offer or making a counteroffer based on data. The regulator describes the issue as a possible abuse of dominance: being dominant is not itself prohibited, but a dominant company may not use its position to impose unfair conditions. UOKiK points to publishers’ reliance on platforms to reach readers and their weaker bargaining position and access to information as context for its concerns. These remain the regulator’s allegations, not a final agency or court finding. UOKiK’s October 5, 2026 announcement sets out the case.

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Which companies and Google services are involved?

The proceeding concerns alleged use of Polish press content in Google Search, Google News and Google Discover. UOKiK named four companies and says it will examine each company’s responsibility during the proceeding:

  • Alphabet Inc: described by UOKiK as the Google group’s parent.
  • Google LLC: described as an advertising-services company and former operator of Google Search in the European Economic Area.
  • Google Ireland Limited: described as the current operator of Google Search in the EEA.
  • Google Poland: described as a seller of online advertising space.

Has Google been fined?

No fine was announced in this case. UOKiK says the maximum potential penalty for abuse of a dominant position is 10% of an undertaking’s turnover. That is a possible statutory maximum, not a penalty imposed or an estimate of what Google will pay. The October 5 announcement describes allegations and a proceeding; it does not establish a final infringement decision.

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Who decides how much publishers should be paid?

UOKiK says it is not a party to the negotiations between Google and publishers and does not assess whether a proposed remuneration rate is appropriate. Its stated focus is on the negotiation conditions and information publishers received. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, UOKiK says the President of Poland’s Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) may determine the remuneration amount.

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Is this the same as the EU’s Google AI investigation?

No. UOKiK says the European Commission opened a separate proceeding in December 2025 concerning Google’s use of publisher content in AI services without appropriate remuneration and an opportunity for publishers to object. UOKiK’s case concerns press content in Search, News and Discover and alleged shortcomings in remuneration negotiations. UOKiK says the proceedings are independent.

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Proceeding Authority Content and issue described Relationship
Polish publisher-remuneration case Poland’s UOKiK Search, News and Discover; alleged negotiation and remuneration-information concerns UOKiK says it is independent of the European Commission proceeding
EU AI-content case European Commission AI services; concerns about remuneration and publishers’ opportunity to object Separate proceeding, according to UOKiK

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