Reports: BitTorrent index SuprNova.org to rise again

SuprNova.org, a well-known BitTorrent hub before being forced to shut down three years ago, is apparently making a comeback.

An agreement was reached that allows the operators of The Pirate Bay to use the domain name, according to reports published Thursday on blogs, TorrentFreak and Slyck.com.

Like The Pirate Bay, SuprNova helped users locate BitTorrent files of movies, TV shows, and books. It's believed that a large number of the files are copyright copies and scores of people from all over the world download them in violation of copyright law. Hollywood has accused such sites of encouraging piracy.

TorrentFreak reported that the new SuprNova will debut sometime in the next week. The Pirate Bay founders could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

Like the name suggests, Suprnova was white hot with file sharers before flaming out in Dec. 2004. Founded in Slovenia in late 2000 by Andrej Preston, SuprNova's popularity paralleled the rise of BitTorrent as a file-swapping tool.

The site went dark following worldwide legal action by the Motion Picture Association of America.

Since SuprNova's closure, file sharing has continued to grow despite the MPAA's legal efforts.

Preston told Slyck that he gave permission to The Pirate Bay founders to use the SuprNova domain under the condition that they preserve the "community spirit."

"I'm going to go study abroad, actually in film industry and I do not want to be associated with it anymore," Preston said according to Slyck. "I still support the whole concept of piracy and I believe it's the next step in media revolution, but I do not have the time for it anymore."