U2 Manager Attacks Internet Providers Over Music Piracy

Paul McGuiness, the long time manager of U2, has called on Internet service providers to do more to help tackle the problem of music piracy.

In an ardent speech at the MIDEM music conference in Cannes yesterday (January 28th), McGuiness said that persistent illegal downloaders should be disconnected by their ISP.

Echoing comments made by the IFPI last week, he also asked Governments to ensure that ISPs were responsible for what actions took place under their watch.

"If you were a magazine advertising stolen cars, handling the money for stolen cars and seeing to the delivery of stolen cars, the police would soon be at your door," he said.

"That's no different to an ISP, but they say they can't do anything about it. If you steal a laptop from a store or don't pay for your broadband service, you'll soon be cut off and nicked."

McGuiness said that it was time that ISPs and companies like Apple, who offer legal download services, shared their profits with the artists.

"The trouble with any blanket agreement is that the money doesn't tend to trickle down to the artists," he said.