Kim Dotcom has revealed a plan to open a new online storage service called Mega, replacing his banned file-sharing website Megaupload.
The new service will be launched in January next year, and will give users direct control and responsibility over their files and designed to avoid the US laws under which he faces prosecution for alleged copyright violations.
Megaupload was shut down by US officials in January this year, following allegations of piracy.
The launch will co-incide with Dotcom’s scheduled extradition hearing in the US where he and other Megaupload operators face prosecution.
US prosecutors accused the site of inflicting copyright holders with losses over $500m, while the company generated $175m in revenues.
Earlier this month, US District Judge Liam O’Grady in Alexandria, Virginia has turned down an appeal from Doctom to dismiss copyright infringement charges against the site.
The new cloud-based service will allow users to upload, store and share photos, text files, music and films, encrypt those files and grant access using decryption keys.
“You hold the keys to what you store in the cloud, not us,” a statement on the Mega website said.
Unlike the Megaupload.com, Mega will not use US-based hosting companies as partners which will allow it sidestep US laws and avoid any crackdown by US authorities.
Doctom was quoted bu Reuters as saying that, “The new Mega will not be threatened by US prosecutors. The new Mega avoids any dealings with US hosters, US domains and US backbone providers and has changed the way it operates to avoid another takedown,” Doctom said.
Dotcom, earlier this month, had revealed plans to launch a music based service called Megabox and is already working to launch the new site soon.
In September this year, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key had apologised to Dotcom for the illegaly intercepting personal communications by the government agencies leading to his arrest.
