U2 frontman Bono warns that in a few years people will be able to download entire movies in seconds. (Odd Anderson/Associated Press)

Irish rocker Bono is calling for better restrictions on the internet to protect artists and their work.

In his regular column for the New York Times, which the U2 frontman began a year ago, Bono says downloading is becoming all-encompassing.

"The only thing protecting the movie and TV industries from the fate that has befallen music and indeed the newspaper business is the size of the files," he wrote.

Bono predicts people are only a few years away from downloading movies in a few seconds.

"A decade's worth of music file-sharing and swiping has made clear that the people it hurts are the creators — in this case, the young, fledgling songwriters who can't live off ticket and T-shirt sales like the least sympathetic among us." And he alleges that "rich service providers" are reaping "the lost receipts of the music business."

The musician claims the technology is available to track and prevent illegal downloading, noting efforts in China which limit its populace from freely accessing the internet.

"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, where music, film, TV and video games help to account for nearly four per cent of gross domestic product," he concludes.

Meanwhile, Bono's band is doing well on its own, though not through record sales.

The Irish rockers had the most popular tour on the North American concert circuit in 2009, according to data from Pollstar.

The band sold $123 million US in tickets, making it the fifth largest concert tour in history, the trade publication reported.