Megaupload may rise again in Auckland
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Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom is claiming that the controversial file-sharing website will soon be relaunched at a press conference at his Auckland mansion
By Mary-Ann Russon | Auckland and London | Wednesday, 26 September, 2012 | 15 Comments
Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom is claiming that the controversial file-sharing website is ready for a relaunch.
A post to his Twitter account on Friday implied this may happen sooner than previously imagined. "Quick update on the new Mega: Code 90% done. Servers on the way. Lawyers, Partners & Investors ready. Be patient. It's coming."
Speaking outside the Auckland High Court this morning, Megaupload chief technology officer Mathias Ortmann, told Computerworld that the 'new Mega' relaunch is near, but was unable to specify a definite time.
"Things are progressing in terms of development, and we are close. There will be an announcement, but not right now," says Ortmann.
Dotcom has given several hints in the last few weeks about the new Megaupload. On 14 September, when asked if he would grant the BBC an interview, he responded over Twitter, "Mega Launch Dotcom Mansion Press Conference TBA. Please come."
On August 28, he also posted cryptic tweets which seem to refer to progress on the new website:
"Developers get ready. The Mega API will provide incredible powers. Our API and your Mega tools will change the world."
"We are building a massive global network. All non-US hosters will be able to connect servers & bandwidth."
US prosecutors are still fighting to have Dotcom extradited to America to stand trial for multiple counts of copyright infringement, but the investigation has hit problems.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has called for an inquiry into the conduct of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) over claims that the security agency illegally spied on Megaupload.
- Additional reporting by Sim Ahmed
Comments
Mega Upbeat
I heard that he was launching an on-line music sampling site, called Fatboy Kim.
Posted by Done Loading at 20:08:45 on September 27, 2012
Posted by Done Loading at 20:08:45 on September 27, 2012
Bad move
I blogged today about the mis-step that Kim appears to be about to make.
His new service is reported to use ad-jacking software as a revenue source. If he does this, he may find that the very media that has been so useful to him in exposing the illegality of the actions taken against him and in moulding public opinion in his favour -- will turn on him.
Posted by Aardvark at 11:58:10 on September 27, 2012
His new service is reported to use ad-jacking software as a revenue source. If he does this, he may find that the very media that has been so useful to him in exposing the illegality of the actions taken against him and in moulding public opinion in his favour -- will turn on him.
Posted by Aardvark at 11:58:10 on September 27, 2012
who has an egg on the face
FBI, John Key, GCSB or the Police?
Posted by Sridhar at 11:42:06 on September 27, 2012
Posted by Sridhar at 11:42:06 on September 27, 2012
Mr. Doccom
Is greeat publicity for NZ.
Most of the world have never heard of us,and few know where we are.
He may revitalise our economy with his Mega this and Mega that.
PS.
The Boys in Blue will not be sucked in/lead astray by our Politicians or the Spooks from the USA in future.
Key and Co. are doing their best to make us believe that they are squeaky clean in all this.
Tell that to the Marines.
Posted by Elderlybloke at 15:55:45 on September 26, 2012
Most of the world have never heard of us,and few know where we are.
He may revitalise our economy with his Mega this and Mega that.
PS.
The Boys in Blue will not be sucked in/lead astray by our Politicians or the Spooks from the USA in future.
Key and Co. are doing their best to make us believe that they are squeaky clean in all this.
Tell that to the Marines.
Posted by Elderlybloke at 15:55:45 on September 26, 2012
interesting times.
"We are building a massive global network. All non-US hosters will be able to connect servers & bandwidth."
So build a global network excluding the US is the idea, and if the US has this magical internet off switch mentioned some time ago, a network around them would be a good idea, the US is over-commercialised and what big business want, big business get, in this case Dotcom was about the launch something similar to Megabox, (as I remember an article around the time of his arrest) that he was in talks with Amazon and a number of other big hitters about this service, this must have really peeved Hollywood as it saw it losing revenue so are trying to use the copyright laws to get him out of the picture.
The crux of the problem however is that I saw another article from Dotcom that said he had already provided Hollywood with a backdoor into his site to remove copyright material, but they hardly ever used it.
His business was not unique, there are other sites just like his and they are still operational so why target one individual rather than take them all down?
It all comes down to this idea of his, and how to prevent him from creating it, will be watching for some more fireworks Kim!
Posted by M at 15:30:53 on September 26, 2012
So build a global network excluding the US is the idea, and if the US has this magical internet off switch mentioned some time ago, a network around them would be a good idea, the US is over-commercialised and what big business want, big business get, in this case Dotcom was about the launch something similar to Megabox, (as I remember an article around the time of his arrest) that he was in talks with Amazon and a number of other big hitters about this service, this must have really peeved Hollywood as it saw it losing revenue so are trying to use the copyright laws to get him out of the picture.
The crux of the problem however is that I saw another article from Dotcom that said he had already provided Hollywood with a backdoor into his site to remove copyright material, but they hardly ever used it.
His business was not unique, there are other sites just like his and they are still operational so why target one individual rather than take them all down?
It all comes down to this idea of his, and how to prevent him from creating it, will be watching for some more fireworks Kim!
Posted by M at 15:30:53 on September 26, 2012
Megabox
His new project is called Megabox, he is not relaunching the original site...
Posted by Jarrad Seers at 13:37:37 on September 26, 2012
Posted by Jarrad Seers at 13:37:37 on September 26, 2012
this guy
...is getting far too much media attention!
he was and is a dodgy character who shouldn't have been allowed into NZ in the first place, but what our law enforcement cowboys fabricated is less than worth an embarrassed laugh.
Posted by Anonymous at 13:27:36 on September 26, 2012
he was and is a dodgy character who shouldn't have been allowed into NZ in the first place, but what our law enforcement cowboys fabricated is less than worth an embarrassed laugh.
Posted by Anonymous at 13:27:36 on September 26, 2012
this guy
"This guy" is no more dodgy that Sam Morgan, founder of TradeMe. If a thief goes and places a warehouse of stolen goods onto TradeMe, do you point the finger of blame at Sam Morgan because he provided the vehicle thru-which said thief sold the goods?
This is precisely the situation Kim Dotcom found himself in. He was providing a very legitimate service to very legitimate customers - Hollywood was but one of his many customers, as Megaupload allowed movie editing studios to transfer raw high definition film footage across the globe at ridiculous speeds to different editing studios. So why was Kim targetted because some digital pirates also happened to use his service to distribute stolen movies/music/software?
Posted by Kim Dotcodotnz at 11:51:07 on September 27, 2012
This is precisely the situation Kim Dotcom found himself in. He was providing a very legitimate service to very legitimate customers - Hollywood was but one of his many customers, as Megaupload allowed movie editing studios to transfer raw high definition film footage across the globe at ridiculous speeds to different editing studios. So why was Kim targetted because some digital pirates also happened to use his service to distribute stolen movies/music/software?
Posted by Kim Dotcodotnz at 11:51:07 on September 27, 2012
this guy
You're a sad case - they checked him; he got in - what is dodgy is Sony and the boys is hogging the market. It's not in the interest of the artists either, as 95% of the money goes to Sony and the boys. Dotcom is merely providing the front runner of the cloud
Posted by Anonymous at 14:43:08 on September 26, 2012
Posted by Anonymous at 14:43:08 on September 26, 2012
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