Timid wallflower Paul Hewson, aka Bono, has taken a break from saving the world and decided to aim his wrath at internet piracy.

Writing an Op-Ed piece for the little-known New York Times Mr B warned the TV and movie industries that the only thing protecting them from the fate that has befallen the music and newspaper industries, "is the size of the files."

Underlining a flair for language that has made him so beloved the world over he said, "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 should call U2's next album The Immutable Laws of Bandwidth; it's got a nice ring to it. And if we can ever download entire series of shows in 24 seconds, then at least the superfast broadband we've been promised will have finally been delivered.

Anyway, back to Bono (yes, we must) and he was clearly starting to enjoy being opinionated as he lined up China for a little dig, as well as showing some alarmingly Big Brother-like sentiments:

"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," wrote the mighty Leprechaun. "Perhaps movie moguls will succeed where musicians and their moguls have failed so far, and rally America to defend the most creative economy in the world."

Bono wants net monitoring? Sneak thought he would say 'down with this sort of thing', not that it's noble. A worrying development.

He ends his piece somewhat confusingly by addressing himself: "Note to self: Don't get over-rewarded rock stars on this bully pulpit, or famous actors; find the next Cole Porter, if he/she hasn't already left to write jingles."

Hang on...is that Bono referring to himself as an "over-rewarded rock star"? A collector's item if so.

04 Jan 2010