Kim Dotcom, the internet entrepreneur and former Hong Kong resident facing extradition to the US for alleged piracy, plans to give all householders in his new home of New Zealand free broadband access - financed by suing Hollywood studios and the American government.
The flamboyant 38-year-old, formerly known as Kim Schmitz, made a fortune reputed to exceed £100 million (HK$1.24 billion) with his Hong Kong-based Megaupload file storage site.
US prosecutors allege Mega-upload was involved in the distribution of copyright-protected films, music and other material.
Originally based in Wan Chai, Dotcom has had New Zealand residency for two years.
In January this year, police raided his mansion in Auckland and other addresses on behalf of the FBI. Six months later, New Zealand's high court ruled that the operation was illegal.
Dotcom has been free on bail since February, but faces an extradition hearing in March.
