The claim is that you’re profiting from their publishing activity without compensating them. In essence, the feed is a data stream and you must obtain a license for it. I’m not saying I agree, but that’s how I understand the argument.
I think that says it all. They are getting paid: in traffic.
If they aren't okay with that there are already means at their disposal, like the robot exclusion protocol, or even putting their content behind a paywall where robots can't get at it.
EDIT: full picture here: https://juliareda.eu/eu-copyright-reform/extra-copyright-for...
Essentially, the media companies are trying to create a legally-enforced cartel, since the last time some defected.
The agreegatr is doing the work of collecting, displaying, possibly curating, possibly organising, rankng, sorting, etc. If anyone should get paid t should be the agregator.
If the original content publishers are unhappy that can stop publishing they can stop publishing their content for FREE.
They want all the benefits of near zero cost distributing to acrue to them. On top they want those proving exposure and increasing the value of their product to pay them!
And since that is uttely one sided, ridiculous deal no one has taken them up on it. So, they are trying to use the law to enforce it.
The fact that the article exists and it's title does not stand in for the articles content so we haven't deprived the author of any right to profit from such.
If Bob wants to be paid he can run ads within the article or even charge money and put up a paywall.
Making anyone who wants to talk about Bob's article and share a link pay for the privilege of promoting Bob's work is quite frankly stupid even if narrowly construed.
A website discussing all the articles about Hippos is a different work than Bob's article and Bob doesn't need a cut further this could easily be misused to say shut down criticism by charging undue revenue for anyone who wants to talk about and link to your work if they have anything unflattering to say.
Im already dubious about the current applications of copyright. Giving authors the right to own all discussion of their work seems monumentally stupid.