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The site's founder, Jon Newton, had been forced to put the anti-DRM site up for sale, after his main sources of revenues gradually withdrew their advertising and financial backing.

However, in addition to his mystery backer, Newton has also secured technical backup and a hosting service that will enable him to relaunch the site within a matter of weeks.

Newton did not reveal details of the rescue package, at the request of his new backer. 'I'll be working

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with a guy who has sites of his own and the technical know-how and people to back them up,' Newton said. 'This means I'll be able to concentrate on content, and that's fine with me. My new partner is presently up to his eye-balls in work of his own and doesn't want to be named just yet. But there's good reason and I'll let you know who he is in the fairly near future. For now, it's enough to say he's also a musician.'

The site will now be redesigned, with content restructured to make it easier to sell advertising space.

However, the site may struggle to attract fresh advertisers following heavy pressure from the music industry. 'Early in the year, the Big 4 Organized Music gang [Newton's name for the major record companies] turned on LimeWire, one of my advertisers,' Newton said last week. 'LimeWire pulled their booking, and then it was BearShare's turn. Two down, and I was in deep trouble. Again, I had to borrow money to stay online.'