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Prepare to return Dotcom data - FBI told

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Prepare to return Dotcom data - FBI told

3News NZ

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom

Lawyers for the US Government say attempts to have internet piracy charges against Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom thrown out are a waste of time.

German-born Dotcom, who the United States wants to extradite from New Zealand to face piracy charges, is arguing in a US court that the US has no jurisdiction over the Hong Kong-based cloud storage service.

But the US Attorney's office argues that defence is a waste of time and resources, CNET reports.

It says some of Megaupload's lawyers have conflicts of interest - representing in the past some of the witnesses and victims, including Google, Disney, Time Warner and Paramount Pictures.

Neil MacBride, US Attorney for Eastern District of Virginia, compared Megaupload's request that more of the company's money be returned to "returning money to a bank robber".

Hollywood film studios say that Megaupload enabled millions of people around the world to store pirated movies and TV shows in the company's digital lockers.

Meanwhile, a New Zealand high court judge has effectively halted a previous court decision to allow Dotcom and his three co-accused access to some of the information that will be used against them in an extradition hearing scheduled for August.

An urgent two-day judicial review has been ordered, although a date is yet to be set.

In the meantime US Government lawyers must prepare the information so it can be handed over if the review rules in favour of the Megaupload group.

When New Zealand police raided Dotcom's mansion north of Auckland earlier this year at the request of the US, FBI agents seized a massive 150 terabytes of data.

Dotcom is also waiting on a decision on a High Court judicial review seeking the return of 135 computer and data storage devices, challenging the legality of the search warrants used to seize them.

NZN

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Comments

16/06/2012 8:04:57 a.m.

James wrote:

Diane I think you will find there is no crime yet as Dotcom has not been found guilty. Also isn't apples Icloud very similar. I guess they don't want to rock the boat in their own countries stock exchange. youtube has had wrangles as well I think with Viacom, sued them and lost because they could not be held liable for actions of their customers. I guess Sony used to add duel tape players and hi speed dubbing to its hi-fi's did they get sued for this, it was used to illegally copy music.

15/06/2012 9:53:12 p.m.

oliver wrote:

@Dianna you are completely missing the point. The money is HIS to do as he chooses. If he wants to life in a mansion and hire nannies etc then let him. The issue arises around the way this case has been handled and as Free Doctom said the way the FBI have tried to make any connection it can between Dotcom and the United States through the location of a server in their country. It is getting beyond ridiculous; hopefully it will be thrown out eventually.

15/06/2012 6:11:35 p.m.

FREE DOTCOM!! wrote:

Seriously, the New Zealand courts need to tell the FBI to go home and violate the rights of their own citizens. I've been tracking this story in the media, and this case is beyond shocking, and I can't believe the NZ govt went along with it in any capacity. They are bringing a case (still haven't even charged them) against a non-US company, (who incidentally was compliant with USA copyright regulations for file-sharing websites), who just happened to rent server space of a company that had a presence in the USA. Talk about stretching it. The defense are mentioning a 'mega-conspiracy' - and I must admit, it seems to reek of it. I kinda makes me think this has nothing to do with copyright infringement, and that the US government had ulterior motives to get their hands on private data being stored on Mega uploads servers. Well, it's pretty much what they have done; they've stolen the private files of more that 66 million users (teaching us all the lesson to not use any cloud services for our personal or business use that have ANY presence in the USA). I have no problem with copyright protection at all, but this case is a far stretch to claim to be policing this, wake up everyone, it's a slippery slope. I really hope that Dotcom gets to stay in NZ, employ a bunch of people (including Nannies and bulters), and continue to spend lot of his money in our shops! FREE KIM DOTCOM!!

15/06/2012 3:39:23 p.m.

Diana wrote:

Why on Earth cant NZ send him over to the USA Now.. He is costing us a forturn in tax payers money to fit this. Lawyer fees and lords only knows what else.. Why on earth does he need all that protection? and finally does his wife not know how to cook? why house keepers butters or nannies. Surely she can be like any ordinary other person and work. As as for Dot com Stop wasting OUR countries Money on your crimes, as it is NZers have enough expence with CHCH earthquake and rising cost of living.