U2 manager Paul McGuinness has lashed out at Google for the company's stance against the proposed SOPA/PIPA legislation aimed at curtailing online piracy.
In a statement at the recent MIDEM Music Conference in France, McGuinness argued that it's in the web giant's best interest to start supporting the law.
"It amazes me that Google has not done the right thing. The experience of people when they go on Google and look for U2 music or PJ Harvey music is a shopping list of illegal opportunities to get their music. They have done nothing meaningful to discourage that," McGuinness said of the site, which acted in solidarity with other websites who protested the legislation.
"Why are they not trying to solve the future in a more generous way?" he continued. "Ultimately it is in their interest that the flow of content will continue. And that won't happen unless it's paid for. And I don't think we can rely on politicians who are afraid of being unpopular to accomplish this without some willingness and generosity on the part of the tech area."
For their part in the protest, Google helped funnel users to online petitions calling for dissolution of the proposed laws.
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