Kim Dotcom, the founder of the proscribed file-sharing site 'Megaupload' launched a new file-sharing site called 'Mega' on Sunday. Since its release, the site registered more than a million users.
Dotcom introduced his Mega site at his New Zealand mansion a year after the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested him on charges of online piracy and racketeering.
"As of this minute one year ago #Megaupload was destroyed by the US Government. Welcome to http://Mega.co.nz," Dotcom tweeted after the new site went live.
Dotcom promised users enhanced levels of privacy through file encrypting. He said the new network was thoroughly inspected by lawyers for security and privacy concerns.
The new site is the brain child of Dotcom and his fellow mates Megaupload chief marketing officer Finn Batato, chief technical officer, director and co-founder Mathias Ortmann, and Dutch national Bram van der Kolk, whose names have also been framed in the online piracy case charge sheet.
Like the earlier version, the new Mega allows storage of 50GB and offers the gamut of sharing large files. The launch of the new file-sharing site is not to exact revenge on the US or to provoke the authorities, he assured.
"Sometimes good things come out of terrible events," Dotcom said. "For example, if it wasn't for a giant comet hitting earth, we would still be surrounded by angry dinosaurs hungry, too. If it wasn't for that iceberg, we wouldn't have a great Titanic movie which makes me cry every time I see it. And if it wasn't for the raid, we wouldn't have Mega."
Meanwhile, the US government authorities are still mulling on Dotcom's extradition to the US. The Motion Picture Association of America which accused Dotcom of infringement expressed unhappiness over the new network launch.
"We are still reviewing how this new project will operate, but we do know that Kim Dotcom has built his career and his fortune on stealing creative works," said the MPAA, Associated Press reported.
"We'll reserve final judgment until we have a chance to take a closer look, but given Kim Dotcom's history of damaging the consumer experience by pushing stolen, illegitimate content into the marketplace, count us as sceptical," it added.
