Last week, internet impresario Kim Dotcom (real name: KimSchmitz) had announced plans to re-launch his file-sharing site, MegaUpload;but, his plans were dashed when the Communication Minister of Gabonese Republicannounced its nation would not host the site:
"I have instructed my departments to immediatelysuspend the site www.me.ga," saying that the effort was aimed at"protect[ing] intellectual property rights."
Following the announcement by the Gabonese government, Kim'sattorney issued a statement saying the site would continue its search for anaccommodating host:
"It sounds like a lack of net neutrality in Gabon.We're just going to use a different domain."
Kim Dotcom had relocated his file-sharing site to the WestAfrican nation after U.S. officials shut down his site in January. At the time,Megaupload, which boasted 150 million users, accounted for about 4 percent oftotal Internet use.
Currently, the U.S. is attempting to extraditeKim, charging him with fraudulently making more than $175 million on piratedmovies, TV shows and other content. For now, the German national is out on bailin New Zealand. His extradition trial is in March.