The FBI claimed Megaupload, while purporting to be an online locker for people to store large files for their own use, was in fact acting as a repository for thousands of illegally uploaded movies, television episodes and music tracks.
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“This case is not just about me”.
Dotcom claims that Washington is pursuing him at the request of the United States entertainment industry and says the case could set a precedent that affects all Internet users.
Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom is back in court, as the long-awaited extradition hearing has yet to properly get underway.
But Dotcom and his co-accused argue the extradition hearing shouldn’t start until three more requests to delay proceedings are heard and ruled on.
Dubbed the “Mega Conspiracy” by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. authorities allege Dotcom and his associates – Mathias Ortmann, Finn Batato and Bram van der Kolk – were involved in an organised criminal enterprise centred on copyright violation through Megaupload which earned them $175m (£112m). Kim Dotcom’s business, Megaupload, has been destroyed really through simply taking the action, ‘ he said. USA prosecutors don’t need to demonstrate Dotcom and his partners are blameworthy.
Then, in September 2012, the Government was forced to admit the Government Communications and Security Bureau’s (GCSB) spying on Mr Dotcom was illegal, as he was a New Zealand resident.
THE MONEY: Defense lawyers say that they have been hamstrung because Dotcom and his colleagues don’t have access to their money in order to mount a robust defense.
In an expert opinion filed to the Auckland court, Lessig, who has said he will run for the post of U.S. President, argues that the DOJ has not established that the respondents committed crimes of copyright infringement.
It’s expected the hearing could last several weeks as prosecutors won’t have to prove guilt but instead something known as a prima facie case, showing a level of proof that there is reason to bring a criminal case.
It all stems from Dotcom’s cloud storage operation Megaupload which reportedly earned the 41-year-old tens of millions of dollars.
“The judges on this case can become the champions for billions of Internet users or a handful of US content billionaires”, he tweeted.
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“We are in the process of preparing for the September 21st extradition hearing”, Ira Rothken, Dotcom’s lead global counsel, told Ars.”But the motion for stay is being raised with the District Court on day one of the extradition hearing”.
