A high-stakes legal battle is set to unfold between Bernard Arnault and Elon Musk—two of the wealthiest individuals on the planet. This lawsuit will be presented in Paris next May, marking the start of a significant court case over content rights between Arnault’s media companies and Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Arnault’s French media companies, which include Le Parisien and Les Echos, claim that Musk’s platform has been using their content without proper compensation. The lawsuit argues that X, unlike other digital platforms, has failed to pay these publications for distributing their content, as stipulated by European content regulation laws.
Core Allegations Against Musk’s X Platform
The lawsuit asserts that X has not adhered to the European guidelines established in 2019. These regulations mandate that large digital platforms must pay news outlets and other media sources for republishing their content. While companies like Google and Meta have engaged in negotiations and struck deals with French media companies, X has reportedly avoided similar discussions, neglecting to compensate French publishers fairly.
Arnault’s legal team has stated that despite a May ruling by a Parisian court mandating X to share commercial data with French publishers, X has not complied. This non-compliance has intensified the legal pressure, with Arnault’s media companies accusing X of attempting to evade legal obligations. This lawsuit emphasizes that media content rights are crucial for promoting media independence and ensuring public access to information—values essential to democratic societies.
The Billionaires’ Wealth and Rivalry
Beyond the legal battle, Arnault and Musk are competitors for the title of the world’s wealthiest person. Arnault, the head of the luxury conglomerate LVMH (which owns brands like Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior), has briefly held the title. However, Musk, with interests in Tesla and SpaceX, currently leads, with his net worth rising significantly. In 2024, Musk’s wealth increased by $105.5 billion to reach $334.5 billion, while Arnault’s has decreased to $171.5 billion due to declining luxury demand from China.
Implications of Arnault’s Legal Action
Arnault’s lawsuit highlights a growing conflict between traditional media and digital platforms over content rights and payments. His media group argues that revenue from these content rights is vital for preserving media diversity, independence, and quality—elements fundamental to a free society. This case will likely be a landmark in establishing clearer frameworks for content rights and financial obligations for social media giants.
