Megaupload Founder Launches New File-Sharing Site

Kim Dotcom, the founder of the controversial file-sharing site Megaupload, has launched a new cloud storage-style website. Unfortunately for Dotcom and his supporters, the new site is running into some early technical difficulties.

Megaupload, you may remember, allowed its 150 million active users to upload and download all kinds of digital files. Authorities took Dotcom to court, however, arguing he should have done more to prevent Megaupload visitors from illegally sharing copyright-protected material.

As a result, Megaupload was forced offline.

"Mega" Too Popular for Own Good

Dotcom's new site, known simply as Mega, is now online at 'mega.co.nz'. Many observers see Mega as a more modern replacement for Megaupload.

Immediately after its launch in mid-January, 2013, Mega immediately attracted hundreds of thousands of registered users. Well over a million people reportedly visited the site in its first week. (Source: nydailynews.com)

However, Dotcom is having trouble providing stable web service to all his new visitors. The problem: Dotcom simply wasn't prepared for the site's extreme popularity.

"The massive global PR around the #Mega launch is simply too big to handle for our start-up," Dotcom recently tweeted. "I apologize for poor service quality."

Dotcom says he's working round the clock to address the problematic technical issues. He says he'll be able to provide more stable service within a few days.

Copyright Infringement Addressed by Mega, Dotcom Says

Mega functions in a way that's similar to cloud storage services like Dropbox or Google Drive. However, Dotcom insists that Mega users accused of sharing copyright-protected material without permission will quickly find their files taken offline.

"There's a very robust [copyright protection] takedown process on Mega," noted Ira Rothken, Dotcom's lawyer. "There's an automated form, as well as an email process. It meets or exceeds the industry standard for takedowns." (Source: arstechnica.com)

Meanwhile, the United States government continues to seek Dotcom's extradition in relation to charges he profited from illegal sharing of copyright-protected files. If ultimately extradited to the US, tried and found guilty, Dotcom could face a 20-year jail term.