Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom granted bail

• Lan wrote on 2012-02-22 09:22

  The founder of file-sharing site Megaupload has been granted bail by a New Zealand court.
  
  Kim Dotcom, 38, has been in prison since 20 January at the request of the US authorities.
  
  He faces charges in the US for one of the biggest copyright infringement cases in the country's history.
  
  The site is accused of costing copyright holders more than $500m (£320m) in lost revenue.
  
  Flight risk
  North Shore District Court Judge Nevin Dawson overturned two previous rulings that the millionaire, who is a German national, was an "extreme flight risk" because he had the money and connections to get out of the country.
  
  The judge said the risk had diminished because all his funds were seized and no new assets or bank accounts had been uncovered.
  
  Speaking to reporters in Auckland, Mr Dotcom said he was "relieved to go home to see my family, my three little kids and my pregnant wife".
  
  On 17 February Mr Dotcom was charged with three new criminal copyright counts and five new wire fraud counts.
  
  That is on top of one count of racketeering, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of criminal copyright infringement charges.
  
  US authorities are seeking to extradite Mr Dotcom, who changed his name legally from Schmitz, and three other co-defendants who had earlier been granted bail.
  
  Denied charges
  The US Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation allege that Megaupload and its related sites made millions in 'criminal proceeds' by sharing pirated copies of movies, music and other content.
  
  Founded in 2005, the site was shut down by authorities last month.
  
  They also seized millions of dollars worth of assets owned by Mr Dotcom including luxury cars, artwork and investments.
  
  Mr Dotcom has denied any criminal misconduct and has said he will fight extradition to the US.
  
  

  
  
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17122866
• Cucurbita wrote on 2012-02-22 09:29
  This is all bs. I'm sad that they're all out to get him like that.
  
  Since when did the USA arrest people in New Zealand anyways?
  
  "relieved to go home to see my family, my three little kids and my pregnant wife" broke my heart.
• Blassreiter wrote on 2012-02-22 09:32
  USA always felt that they should be the world police.
• Kingofrunes wrote on 2012-02-22 09:50

  Quote from Blassreiter;782439:

  USA always felt that they should be the world police.

  
  
  This time it goes way to fucking far I feel. I think the Department of Justice is being really stupid here. I hope Megaupload wins this. This is just intolerable.
• Cucurbita wrote on 2012-02-22 09:53

  Quote from Kingofrunes;782475:

  This time it goes way to fucking far I feel. I think the Department of Justice is being really stupid here. I hope Megaupload wins this. This is just intolerable.

  
  
  With everyone in the government and influential media corporations against him, I doubt he has even the tiniest sliver of a chance of winning this.
  
  And supposedly, he did commit some real crimes, but not this 500million dollar lost revenue crap that they're trying to force in to court.
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2012-02-22 17:54
  please let megaupload go back up...
• paladin wrote on 2012-02-23 04:24
  The money laudrering is legit
  but 500 million in profit?
  No way megaupload made that much
• MareneCorp wrote on 2012-02-23 04:35
  He simply made the site, it's been others posting shit up on it, he owes not a cent of that 500million. So the US government steals several million dollars worth of his stuff, keep him in jail, and are trying to make him pay out even more? What a bunch of greedy, power-hungry bastards.
• Cucurbita wrote on 2012-02-23 04:37

  Quote from BobYoMeowMeow;782920:

  please let megaupload go back up...

  
  
  Pleaaaaase :(
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2012-02-23 04:40

  Quote from paladin;783358:

  The money laudrering is legit
  but 500 million in profit?
  No way megaupload made that much

  
  
  Ads
  ads everywhere
  and megaupload accounts
  
  Servers are actually cheap
• paladin wrote on 2012-02-23 04:45

  Quote from BobYoMeowMeow;783379:

  Ads
  ads everywhere
  and megaupload accounts
  
  Servers are actually cheap

  
  
  Still ads and account upgrades by technical terms are legit
  There is nothing wrong for paying for more storage space
  or getting payed to show ads
• Yoorah wrote on 2012-02-23 05:31
  In the end, he still made a killing by providing a service that thrived off of illegal activity.
  Then there's a ton of other crimes he's accused of, where he is probably guilty. Gotta wait for the courts to decide on that.
  I can't say I feel bad for him.
  
  And there's nothing wrong with him getting arrested in NZ. Extradition treaties exist for good reason.
• paladin wrote on 2012-02-23 05:33

  Quote from Yoorah;783450:

  In the end, he still made a killing by providing a service that thrived off of illegal activity.
  Then there's a ton of other crimes he's accused of, where he is probably guilty. Gotta wait for the courts to decide on that.
  I can't say I feel bad for him.
  
  And there's nothing wrong with him getting arrested in NZ. Extradition treaties exist for good reason.

  
  
  Those crimes are what get him in jail
  Imo if he flees to a country where they refuse america hes safe
  Extradition unless formaly argeed on like with a treaty is voluntary