By Soraya Roberts, NY Daily News Staff Writer
The illegal downloading of music is out of control, writes Bono.
In a column for the New York Times, the U2 front man writes that it's time for America to fight file sharing with the same fervor and technology that it does child pornography.
"We know from America's noble effort to stop child pornography [...]," he writes under the heading "Intellectual Property Developers," "that it's perfectly possible to track content."
By following the content, the Feds can determine who's downloading it illegally and nab the thieves that the Irish rocker says have crippled the music industry, .
Even if America has to use the same methods as China in crushing dissent online, Bono explains, the authorities must do everything in their power to protect the "young, fledgling songwriters who can't live off ticket and T-shirt sales."
If we don't act now, Bono signs off his rant, we may lose the next "Cole Porter."
Clearly, the philanthropist doesn't need much help for himself. According to data from trade publication Pollstar, in 2009 U2 had the most popular tour in North America.
With $123 million in ticket sales, U2's "369 Degrees Live Across America 2009" concert became the fifth largest tour in history.
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