Denmark Supports Belgium in EU Court Battle Over Publisher Rights
Copenhagen has filed a written intervention backing Belgium as tech companies challenge how the country enforces press publishers’ rights.
July 6, 2026 – 2:22 pm
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Denmark has entered into one of the quieter but more significant legal disputes regarding compensation for online journalism. The Danish government has submitted a written statement to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), supporting Belgium in a case against a group of technology companies disputing the enforcement of publishers’ rights.
The controversy centers around Article 15 of the 2019 Copyright in the Digital Single Market Directive, which grants press publishers the right to be compensated when their content is reused by online platforms. Belgium’s method of implementing this right is being challenged by major tech companies, including Streamz, Google, Meta, Spotify, and Sony.
They argue that Belgium’s regulations exceed what EU law allows. Conversely, Denmark argues the opposite in its intervention.
The oral hearing for this case is scheduled for June 7, 2026, with Denmark planning to participate actively rather than just submitting a written statement.
Copenhagen’s motivation is clear: protecting Danish media houses and ensuring that platforms like Meta pay for news articles and other content shared on their services. This intervention reflects national industrial interest in the courtroom.
This case has local implications as well. Danish publishers have actively negotiated with platforms, forming a collective management body and taking legal action against OpenAI earlier this year over content use. Denmark’s diplomatic support in Luxembourg adds another layer to the domestic push for publisher rights.
The outcome of this case is significant for all member states. A favorable ruling for Belgium (and by extension, Denmark) would broaden the scope of national regulators’ power to enforce fair remuneration and data-sharing between platforms and publishers. Conversely, a win for the tech companies would limit these powers.
Recent CJEU rulings have generally favored publishers, setting a precedent that gives national authorities substantial leverage in this ongoing debate.