A French court has found Google guilty of copyright infringement and ordered it to pay half a million euros compensation to rights holders.

The case was brought by film producer Mondovino along with documentary makers and photographers.

The plaintiffs complained that Google had made their work available either on its search engine or on Google Video, despite demands to remove it.

The search and advertising giant must pay E430,000 in damages and lawyers' fees, AFP reports.

Google told the newswire it was considering an appeal.

The ad giant beat similar charges in Spain brought by a Berlosconi-owned TV station, but lost a privacy case in Italy brought as a result of footage posted on You Tube.®

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