The Pirate Bay Web site that promotes trading of pirated movies is developing a new software standard for Internet downloads in a move that could make it easier to swap media files, which is illegal in many countries. The Sweedish Pirate Bay is the biggest ad-supported site using the software of BitTorrent. The program has been a good match for Internet denizens looking to pick up free downloads of copyrighted media including movies and video games.

But BitTorrent has seen some long-awaited success in working with major media companies, and as its ties with the industry grow, it might add features to discourage trading pirated materials, said Pirate Bay's co-founder, Peter Sunde.

"If they go and do something stupid, it will affect a lot of people," Sunde said in an interview, noting the site gets 1.5 million visitors on a typical day.

He said he hopes to have the first version of the software ready early next year and has asked for developers to pitch in at Web site http://securep2p.com.

In May of last year the Motion Picture Association of America claimed victory over Pirate Bay after Swedish authorities confiscated the site's computers.

But the site was back online three days after the raid. Pirate Bay then moved their servers to secret locations.

Sites like Pirate Bay post blueprints of files, rather than the files themselves, and instruct downloading computers where to find the material on machines potentially scattered around the globe. A single file can be downloaded in pieces from many machines, which keeps congestion down and speeds delivery.

Pirate Bay also wants to raise $50,000 to buy an island and create its own nation-state where piracy would be legal.