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Megaupload Founder Kim Dotcom Wins Battle in Ongoing Fight Against US Extradition (reuters.com)

Posted by msmash on from the tussle-continues dept.

Eccentric Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom has won a major court battle today in his ongoing fight against his extradition from New Zealand to the U.S. From a report: German-born Dotcom faces extradition to the United States relating to his Megaupload site, which was shut down in 2012 following an FBI-ordered raid on his Auckland mansion. U.S. authorities say Dotcom and three co-accused Megaupload executives cost film studios and record companies more than $500 million and generated more than $175 million by encouraging paying users to store and share copyrighted material. Dotcom, who has New Zealand residency, is fighting those charges and the extradition. The Human Rights Review Tribunal awarded Dotcom damages of NZ$30,000 ($21,816) for the "loss of a benefit" and NZ$60,000 for "loss of dignity and injury to feelings."

4 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Justice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    This does not in any way mean he's won his extradition fight. If you look at the next line in TFA, it says "The Human Rights Review Tribunal’s decision might be relevant for his high-profile U.S. extradition case, which is with the Court of Appeal." So, no more than "might be relevant".

  2. Re:and so the system works as intended. by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 5, Informative

    >His business model was founded on undermining the concept of intellectual property.

    His business model was selling cloud storage.

    --
    I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
  3. Re:and so the system works as intended. by youngone · · Score: 3, Informative

    Then again, New Zealanders probably weren't too happy with their tax funds being used for this inanity.

    I am a New Zealand taxpayer and I would much rather my tax money was spent on this sort of thing than tooling up a bunch of police (who should have known better) to kick someone's door in at dawn when two detectives could have knocked politely at a decent hour.
    Now that the raid has been ruled illegal it will be hard to argue anything gained in the raid is admissible I would think.
    As mentioned, Kim dotcom might be in danger if he travels overseas however, as the US has a track record of kidnapping people and torturing them.

  4. Re: Justice by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 3, Informative

    As opposed allowed the Nazis to rule for 1000 years?
    Was a good deal. Saved us the 23 million lives the Russians lost saving the world