69% of press readings today are digital, of which 48% are mobile. The rise of the online press has led to the definition of its contours by law in 2009. Whether linked to a print or stand-alone press title, news sites may be officially recognized as "online press services", subject to compliance with the conditions of this recognition. The request for recognition should be sent to the Ministry of Culture.
Presentation of the device
What is an online press service?
The quality of online press service is granted to online press media. It constitutes professional recognition and allows, under certain conditions, access to direct aids and indirect benefits.
The law of 12 June 2009 promoting the dissemination and protection of creation on the Internet has made it possible to lay the foundations of a specific legal and economic regime for online press services, whether they are sites linked to a print press title or all-online news sites.
The online press service is defined by Article 1 of the Law of 1 August 1986 reform of the legal regime of the press. It must meet several criteria:An Online Press Service is any professionally edited online public communication service by a natural or legal person who has editorial control of its content, consisting of the production and provision to the public of original content, Information of general interest, regularly renewed, consisting of news-related information which has been the subject of journalistic processing and which is not a promotional tool or an accessory to an industrial or commercial activity.”
Objectives of the approach
The aim of this initiative is to register the Online Press Services (SPEL) on the registers of the Joint Commission on Publications and News Agencies. This quality allows access to the economic regime of the press.
Under certain conditions, direct aids, some of which are granted by the Ministry of Culture, are accessible to SPEL recognized by the CPPAP (Strategic Fund for the Development of the Press, Support for the Pluralism of Online Press Services). Indirect benefits, including tax benefits, may be granted to online press services.
Registration on the CPPAP lists is a condition of access to the economic and fiscal regime of the press. It provides a number of specific advantages:
- exemption from the territorial economic contribution (former business tax);
- a reduced VAT rate of 2.1% on sales of online news content; access to the benefit of the investment provision reserved to companies operating an online press service devoted largely to general political information or to online press services developing professional or promoting information access to knowledge and training and dissemination of thought, debate of ideas, general knowledge and scientific research. This benefit is limited to acquisitions strictly necessary to operate the service;
- the application of the deduction on social contributions and professional expenses of journalists;
- access (with conditions) to the Strategic Press Development Fund (FSDP) (grants to support digital development) or to support for the pluralism of all online press services.
Am I concerned by this approach?
- Associations
- Private companies
- Public institutions/ State services
- Individuals (only natural persons engaged in a professional activity)
To be reviewed by the CPPAP, the service must be operational and the content put online effectively.
The online service must meet several criteria (established by the Decree no. 2009-1340 of 29 October 2009) and the publisher must make available to the public:
- The legal obligations of identification, by analogy with the legal notices required for the printed press.
- A service published «in a professional capacity».
- A content, essentially using the written mode, renewed regularly and dated, to exclude simple occasional and partial updates.
- Journalistic content produced by professional journalists.
- A “general interest” content.
- Content that is not violent or pornographic.
- An online service that does not constitute an “advertising or communication instrument” and does not appear as an “accessory to a commercial activity”.
- The publisher must also have editorial control of the content and provide a mechanism for reporting illegal content on the contribution spaces.
Proceeding
The request is made to the CPPAP which ensures the recognition of the online press service. Following a favourable opinion, the CPPAP issues a certificate valid for a period not exceeding 5 years, renewable on request before the expiry date of its certificate. Otherwise, the site is removed from the CPPAP records.
The registration certificate contains the CPPAP number assigned by the online press service. It must be submitted in support of any request for tax relief or government assistance. This number is in the form of a 10-character alphanumeric string. The first four digits correspond to the expiry date of this certificate; the letter, to the category of online press service.
- Examination of applications: by the CPPAP, meeting in subcommittee every six weeks or so.
- Some files may be referred to the plenary session (meeting 7-8 times a year).
- Announcement of results: Notices issued by the CPPAP and certificates are sent by mail to users.
- To access the online form, click on the "Access form" button at the bottom of this page.
- Log in or create an account, then let yourself be guided.
A question?
If you have any questions about the recognition of an online press service, please contact the Joint Commission on Publications and News Agencies (CPPAP) by e-mail at: spel.cppap@culture.gouv.fr or by phone at 01 40 15 38 03.