Kim Dotcom Wants Money From Google, Twitter For 2-Factor Authentication

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Kim Dotcom Wants Money From Google, Twitter For 2-Factor Authentication

Posted by timothy on Thursday May 23, 2013 @02:07AM from the are-celebrities-necessary? dept.

Nyder writes "Kim Dotcom posted via Twitter, with a link to Torrentfreak, that he owns a security patent US6078908, titled 'Method for authorizing in data transmission systems.'" Techdirt points out that Dotcom isn't just asking for financial help: Instead, he's asking companies which use two-factor authentication "to help fund his defense, in exchange for not getting sued for the patent. He points out that his actual funds are still frozen by the DOJ and (more importantly) that his case actually matters a great deal to Google, Facebook and Twitter, because the eventual ruling will likely set a precedent that may impact them -- especially around the DMCA." Update: 05/23 14:23 GMT by T : Why is this relevant to Twitter? If you're not an active Twitter user, you might not realize that (after some well publicized twitter-account hijackings), the company is trying to regain some ground on security. Nerval's Lobster writes "Twitter is now offering two-factor authentication, a feature that could help prevent embarrassing security breaches. Twitter users interested in activating two-factor authentication will need to head over to their account settings page and click the checkbox beside 'Require a verification code when I sign in.'"

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Kim-Dot-Con by Shoten · 2013-05-23 02:23 · Score: 5, Interesting

It bears mentioning that Kim Dotcom was once named Kimble Schwartz, who basically went from one moneymaking scheme to another. Kimvestor, for example, got him jailed for securities violations. YIHAT was a front of an organization that tried to rally people around hacking terrorists. The list goes on and on. About 15 years ago he was noted as being a fraud in the security space, despite claiming to be a hacker. I think he got lucky with Megaupload, but now he's back to his old usual failing-yet-highly-vocal self.

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1. Re:Kim-Dot-Con by Anonymous Coward · 2013-05-23 02:41 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I'm surprised this was actually modded up here... The hivemind has something of a hard-on for Kim Dotcom, anyone who was even mildly critical of him during the Megaupload situation was immediately dismissed as a troll.
  It's rather smugly satisfying to see him turn the tables completely and reveal himself as a patent troll now that he needs some extra cash. It's even more satisfying to know that he's ALWAYS been a money grubbing scumbag, because from what you've posted here, those same people running to his defense should have known better.
2. Re:Kim-Dot-Con by SirGarlon · 2013-05-23 03:12 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  I always thought he was a scumbag. I don't understand why Slashdot and others treat him like some kind of folk hero.
  
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  [Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
3. Re:Kim-Dot-Con by Desler · 2013-05-23 03:14 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Enemy of my enemy, apparently.
Re:Here's what you say by lxs · 2013-05-23 02:24 · Score: 5, Funny

Someone should lock Julian Assange, John Mcaffee and Kim Dotcom in one room for a month and film it. I'd probably pay to watch that.
Go ahead, sue Google by MetalliQaZ · 2013-05-23 02:31 · Score: 5, Interesting

See what happens.

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"Here Lies Philip J. Fry, named for his uncle, to carry on his spirit"
1. Re:Go ahead, sue Google by Desler · 2013-05-23 03:31 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  I never sued them. I believe in sharing knowledge & ideas for the good of society. But I might sue them now cause of what the U.S. did to me
  From here. In your hasty attempt to defend Kim Dotcom you might have wanted to actually do a but more research.
Re:Here's what you say by serviscope_minor · 2013-05-23 02:31 · Score: 5, Funny

Please add Steve Ballmer and a good supply of chairs.

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Re:Here's what you say by DogDude · 2013-05-23 02:39 · Score: 5, Funny

Kim Dotcom would just eat the other two.

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Re:How about this? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-05-23 02:55 · Score: 5, Insightful

How about we not give a free pass to a patent troll just because he used to host a popular, thinly veiled warez site?