It is an anomaly (in European eyes) that the most profitable businesses, particularly overseas technology businesses, are paying little or no tax currently.
I suspect these companies are going to become a target for tax on both sides of the Atlantic over the next two years as governments try to reduce deficits - there are not many other sectors making profit right now.
Let's also not forget Quaero that the French tried to create as a counterbalance to supposedly American centric search for a total estimated amount of 293M Euros over 5 years! If the French government was that concerned about certain favored industries, why not just put their money there?
However, from the article it seems it is more a way to to stimulate certain behavior (i.e. cultural developments).