Bono angry with file-sharers and ISPs

In a column in the New York Times, Bono has lashed out against downloading from illegal sources. In the column, U2’s lead singer has compiled a top ten list of ideas that could make the coming decade more interesting. In the list, which includes quantum teleportation and the democratising effects of new media, the copyright issue.

After ten years of p2p networks, artists have been victimised by file-sharing, Bono states. Especially starting songwriters that sell few t-shrits and concert tickets are duped.

He warns that the movie industry will face the same fate when bandwidth will allow near-instantaneous downloading of movies or series.

Bono points to ISPs as the big winners. According to him, they sanctimoniously claim the need for net neutrality while they make fortunes on the extra data traffic.

In a reaction to the column, British ISP talktalk calls Bono “seriously misguided” and “outrageous”. Talktalk’s Andrew Healy replies that ISPs had to incur extra costs to meet bandwidth demand. Furthermore, the ISP is angry about a comparison with the ban on child pornography.

14-01-2010