U2’s Manager Calls On ISPs To Help Curb Illegal Downloading


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Paul McGuinness, manager of Irish supergroup U2, has said he believes Internet Service Providers (ISPs) need to do more to help stop the illegal downloading of music.

In an article for GQ magazine, McGuinness claimed ISPs are not currently doing enough to assist record labels in their battle against online downloading, and also wrote of his belief that ISPs will need official legislation before they take action. “I am convinced that ISPs are not going to help the music and film industry voluntarily,” he wrote.

“Some things have got to come with the force of legislation, President Sarkozy understood that point when he became the first head of state to champion laws to require ISPs to reduce piracy in France.

In Britain, the major political parties have understood it, too. Following the passing of new anti-piracy laws in April’s Digital Economy Act, Britain and France now have some of the world’s best legal environments for rebuilding our battered music business.”

McGuinness also described the ‘graduated response’, which requires ISPs to issue warning letters to the more prolific offenders, as a far better avenue to pursue, as opposed to what he calls the “ugly alternative of suing hundreds of thousands of individuals.”

McGuinness’ U2 for one are unlikely to be worrying about a decrease of income anytime soon, having resumed their world tour which McGuinness has claimed will go on to be the largest grossing of all time.


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