[karajorma]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8439200.stm

Bono, frontman of rock band U2, has warned the film industry not to make the same mistakes with file-sharing that have dogged the music industry.

Writing for the New York Times, Bono claimed internet service providers were "reverse Robin Hoods" benefiting from the music industry's lost profits.

He hinted that China's efforts prove that tracking net content is possible.

The editorial drew sharp criticism, both on its economic merits and for the suggestion of net content policing.

"The immutable laws of bandwidth tell us we're just a few years away from being able to download an entire season of '24' in 24 seconds," he wrote.

"A decade's worth of music file-sharing and swiping has made clear that the people it hurts are the creators...the people this reverse Robin Hooding benefits are rich service providers, whose swollen profits perfectly mirror the lost receipts of the music business."

In a move that drew significant criticism, Bono went on to suggest that the feasibility of tracking down file-sharers had already been proven.

"We know from America's noble effort to stop child pornography, not to mention China's ignoble effort to suppress online dissent, that it's perfectly possible to track content," he said.

Several commentators assailed both the logic of net monitoring and the economic arguments of the essay, pointing out that U2 topped 2009's list of top-grossing live acts.

"Bono has missed that even a totalitarian government...can't effectively control net-content," tweeted Cory Doctorow, a blogger and journalist noted for his study of file-sharing policy.

"If only greed and ignorance could sequester carbon, Bono could FINALLY save the planet," he added.

Idiot.

[TESLA]

I believe its 'Father Bono' as he is more commonly known around here 

[headdie]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8439200.stm

"If only greed and ignorance could sequester carbon, Bono could FINALLY save the planet," he added.

Massive lol at that

I think hes forgotten that any such war would be lost both publicly and technologically.  I presume in these cash strapped times that piracy is more tempting than ever for Joe public so he just alienated a bigger section of the population than normal.

Technologically if you want an online solution you will have the same problems that anti-virus writers have in that it is a totally reactionary approach because end of the day the guys figuring out how to share this stuff are usually more creative than the writers, are constantly attacking the system so probably know the system better in practice and for it to stand any chance or working would require the ISPs on board which in itself is not easy or fool proof as that would require total global acceptance to achieve any success.

the only other way is through a DRM style protection on the disk and we know what that is worth and thanks to the likes of Sony is unpopular in it self.

not to mention I, as many ppl do, know of a guy who will rip me a copy for a few quid and what do you do about the millions of them!?!?!?!?

so in other words the egotistical jet setting hippie just shot himself in the foot again

[Rodo]

Famous people doesn't necessarily have to be smart people as well, besides he's clearly mad at the thousands that are "stealing" from his big BIG pockets.

[Scotty]

not to mention I, as many ppl do, know of a guy who will rip me a copy for a few quid and what do you do about the millions of them!?!?!?!?

The people like that are the issue, I think.  People who illegally download and then sell said downloads are in the wrong.

[karajorma]

What gets on my nerves is that he has the barefaced cheek to accuse the ISPs of responsibility. How are the ISPs responsible? Their job is to provide a service. It is not their job to add costly work arounds to prevent criminal use of that service. Especially as the cost of those workarounds would then be passed on to the consumers and not to the companies and artists like Bono who actually derive any benefit from this.

When you boil things down to the basics Bono is saying we should pay more so he can be richer. At which point I say he can go **** himself.

[TESLA]

At which point I say he can go **** himself.

Im sure he has tried

[Mongoose]

I always thought Bono was a bit of a ****wit, but this takes the cake.

[Solatar]

He's right, the film industry shouldn't make the same mistakes as the music industry.

The music industry is 100% convinced that any content I've stolen I would have actually bought were it not for limeware, etc. (instead of just stare at the $20 price tag in the store and walk away).

Maybe the film industry will figure out that their way of figuring out "potential profits" they "could have made" is a funky set of maths...




That's what dumbass meant by "different approach", right?


...dumbass...

[NGTM-1R]

Technologically if you want an online solution you will have the same problems that anti-virus writers have in that it is a totally reactionary approach because end of the day the guys figuring out how to share this stuff are usually more creative than the writers, are constantly attacking the system so probably know the system better in practice and for it to stand any chance or working would require the ISPs on board which in itself is not easy or fool proof as that would require total global acceptance to achieve any success.

It has nothing to do with the creativity, and everything to do with a vast numerical superiority.

[Snail]

"We know from America's noble effort to stop child pornography, not to mention China's ignoble effort to suppress online dissent, that it's perfectly possible to track content," he said.

lulz

[Flipside]

See, there's a requirement when making statements about a subject that you have a clue what you are talking about. Unfortunately, Bono seems to have forgotten that.

[SpardaSon21]

So Bono wants us to be more like China and be totalitarian bastards, just so we can possibly maybe reduce music piracy?

[The E]

Yep. All in the name of pissing off paying customers even more.

[Bobboau]

all so us rich reverse robin-hoods don't steel from poor little him.

[swashmebuckle]

Any excuse to trot out the Bono episode:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/111250