EU lawmakers back preliminary deal on copyright reforms

EU lawmakers endorsed on Tuesday a preliminary deal on rewriting the bloc's two-decade old copyright rules, which will force Google to pay publishers and artists for using their work online.

The European Commission kicked off the process two years ago in a bid to protect Europe's cultural heritage and ensure publishers, broadcasters and artists receivet fair compensation from big online companies. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Philip Blenkinsop)