Paul McGuinness: Google isn't doing enough to fight piracy

Google has been making "encouraging noises" about restricting access to sites hosting pirated content, but it needs to take action, said U2's manager Paul McGuinness speaking on a panel at Midem(Marché International du Disque et de l' Edition Musicale)

McGuinness was talking about Google's promise to downgrade sites that host copyright-infringing content in its search engines. He said that he didn't want to engage in "Google-bashing" but that there was a sense of unease across Europe towards the search giant.

He then proceeded to bash Google for not applying itself properly.McGuinness admitted that Google has brought "so much to civilisation" in terms of spreading knowledge. "We all know they're ingenious, but they are making money from directing people to piracy sites." He called for Google executives to "apply themselves" to developing a system of microtransactions that could remunerate artists when someone listens to their music over the web. However, he believes that "they're not really doing what they could be doing in this space".

Michael Barnier, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, was keen to point out that he was firm on tackling piracy in addition to reforming copyright legislation. He called copyright an "essential driver" in the creative process, but said that if that right is not respected it is of little use. He showed particular disdain for those sites making money from advertising from hosting pirated content. "Is it acceptable to tolerate advertising revenues being gobbled up by service providers who foster the free sharing of illegal music files?" he asked.

He went on to criticise the fragmented nature of the European market, but was keen to point out that the situation had improved over the last three years. "But there are some istances of restrictions which Europeans have to suffer; the availability of music and unavailability of some websites is still uneven between member states. It's incomprehensible that Europeans are still facing obstacles on the internet that we've faced in the physical world for the last fifty years."

When the conversation moved to legal streaming services such as Spotify, McGuinness felt that the artist revenues were quite trivial even for huge stars. "You could say that these services are mainly a promotional medium," he said.

You can watch all of the Midem panels online. Or you can read Midem's liveblog of the session here.

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