Bono critical about file-sharing, warns file-sharers

In an interview with USA today Bono has taken a critical stance towards file-sharing. The new U2 album No Line on the Horizon, leaked online 13 days before its official release. It was downloaded at least 445,000 times before this release, according to peer-to-peer monitoring firm BigChampagne.

Bono is irritated about the attitude of consumers towards music and piracy. Not because it hurts him, but because it hurts less fortunate artists and songwriters:

"It\'s not the place for rich rock stars to ask for more money, but somebody should fight for fellow artists, because this is madness. Music has become tap water, a utility, where for me it\'s a sacred thing, so I\'m a little offended."

Bono feels the Internet has emasculated rather than liberated artists, noting that the record industry has lost billions in value. Bono is scared that the attitude towards file-sharing will eventually have an effect on different industries such as the movie industry. He warns not only the movie industry, but also the file-sharers about this situation. Since the movie industry is fundamentally different from the music industry, the effects of piracy are far more detrimental to this industry. Bono thinks that governments will take stronger action once file-sharing of TV shows and movies becomes as easy as songs:

“Somebody is going to call the cops".

Source: USA Today