Dotcom said Mega was a different beast to Megaupload, as the new site enables users to control exactly which users can access uploaded files, in contrast to its predecessor, which allowed users to search files, some of which contained copyrighted content allegedly without permission.

FORBES: Links 19 Jan: Kim Dotcom's PR System Is Certainly Working Well Over Mega

Later, Mr McCourt began laying his own telephone cables, building small local networks for commercial customers that allowed them to bypass Bell Atlantic's Boston predecessor.

ECONOMIST: Stand and deliver

Moreover, his appeal to ordinary voters has allowed Mr Estrada to press ahead with measures that his predecessor neglected.

ECONOMIST: Changing the script in the Philippines