Kim Dotcom Will Go to the US in Exchange for Legal Funds • Hacker News Board

Re: Kim Dotcom Will Go to the US in Exchange for Legal Funds

#61

Post by ktizo » Wed, Jul 11, 2012, 2:51 AM UTC

briandear wrote: post #58

sp332 wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The FBI wanted him extradited. He didn't want to be extradited. So there was going to be a hearing about whether the FBI got what they wanted, or Dotcom got what he wanted (or some court-mediated compromise, but that seems unlikely in this case). Kim negotiated with the FBI so they no longer disagree about whether he will be extradited, so the hearing is no longer required.

The FBI along with the Dutch, the British, the Germans and the Canadians. Let's not make this into an entirely US thing.

He is going to the US to stand under US law and this was an FBI initiated and led operation, with the other organisations giving what the FBI terms "substantial and critical assistance", so as far as I can tell this means that outside the US, only the NZ police have assisted in any operational role. "Critical assistance" could even just mean other organisations advising them that it was an appallingly bad idea, depending on how cynically you judge the content of government documentation.

http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/justice-depa...

Re: Kim Dotcom Will Go to the US in Exchange for Legal Funds

#62

Post by wtvanhest » Wed, Jul 11, 2012, 3:40 AM UTC

philwelch wrote: post #30

SoftwareMaven wrote: post #12

Look at his options: 1. Get bled until nobody will offer legal services to him because they know he can't pay. Get extradited with a public defendant (if he's lucky). Have a trial with a lawyer being provided by the DoJ (who happens to be the ones putting him on trial). 2. Get extradited with a team of really good lawyers who truly represent him. There really aren't any options that don't end with him extradited. Why…

He could always go on the run with Julian Assange.

Not sure why this is down voted, it is a very legitimate point.

Re: Kim Dotcom Will Go to the US in Exchange for Legal Funds

#63

Post by indrax » Wed, Jul 11, 2012, 4:07 AM UTC

briandear wrote: post #55

rhizome wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

New Zealand is a global corporate tax haven. They have leverage.

Why would new Zealand even bother? What's in it for them?

Remaining a global corporate tax haven.

Re: Kim Dotcom Will Go to the US in Exchange for Legal Funds

#64

Post by batgaijin » Wed, Jul 11, 2012, 4:09 AM UTC

Has anyone ever double checked the megaupload business model? Like, comparing how much s3 would cost to store all the data, and how many customers?

I couls never get it to work out...

Re: Kim Dotcom Will Go to the US in Exchange for Legal Funds

#65

Post by andyjsong » Wed, Jul 11, 2012, 4:38 AM UTC

SoftwareMaven wrote: post #12

Look at his options: 1. Get bled until nobody will offer legal services to him because they know he can't pay. Get extradited with a public defendant (if he's lucky). Have a trial with a lawyer being provided by the DoJ (who happens to be the ones putting him on trial). 2. Get extradited with a team of really good lawyers who truly represent him. There really aren't any options that don't end with him extradited. Why…

Real option 3. Get legal financing[1] so he can hire competent lawyers and get a fair trial. If Dotcom is so confident that he'll win, why doesn't be borrow the money and counter sue for business interruption? Moreover, why doesn't a top law firm work on contingency? Win, get a huge payout on the counterclaim, lose nada.

[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_financing

Re: Kim Dotcom Will Go to the US in Exchange for Legal Funds

#66

Post by briandear » Wed, Jul 11, 2012, 4:53 AM UTC

wooter wrote: post #60

briandear wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You really want a source for the fact that his site was a piracy haven? Are you that naïve? The man has a history of criminality, including embezzlement plus the people that are defending him are the same people who complain about Hollywood and the RIAA. If he wasn't facilitating global piracy then Hollywood and the RiAA are irrelevant in any arguments about this case. If he's innocent, he'll have his day in court.

> If he's innocent, he'll have his day in court. Are you really that naive? I don't want to be dramatic, but take current events into account (Julian Assange, the NDAA, Guantanamo). There is plenty of abuse. The question is not whether people used Mega Upload for piracy, its whether or not their service complied with the law (DMCA). For example: if I mail narcotics, is the Post Office breaking the law? If I Drop Box…

If the post office is aware that you are mailing drugs, then yes, they are liable.

Re: Kim Dotcom Will Go to the US in Exchange for Legal Funds

#67

Post by dekz » Wed, Jul 11, 2012, 5:09 AM UTC

briandear wrote: post #66

wooter wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If he's innocent, he'll have his day in court. Are you really that naive? I don't want to be dramatic, but take current events into account (Julian Assange, the NDAA, Guantanamo). There is plenty of abuse. The question is not whether people used Mega Upload for piracy, its whether or not their service complied with the law (DMCA). For example: if I mail narcotics, is the Post Office breaking the law? If I Drop Box…

If the post office is aware that you are mailing drugs, then yes, they are liable.

You argue as if MU just ignored DMCA requests, they did not.

Re: Kim Dotcom Will Go to the US in Exchange for Legal Funds

#68

Post by res0nat0r » Wed, Jul 11, 2012, 6:03 AM UTC

dekz wrote: post #67

briandear wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the post office is aware that you are mailing drugs, then yes, they are liable.

You argue as if MU just ignored DMCA requests, they did not.

You obviously haven't read the indictment. They weren't totally ignoring the takedown requests yes, but they were knowingly assisting and profiting off content they knew was copyrighted.

Re: Kim Dotcom Will Go to the US in Exchange for Legal Funds

#69

Post by yardie » Wed, Jul 11, 2012, 7:25 AM UTC

res0nat0r wrote: post #52

mtgx wrote: post #9

So the US's Government's tactic is to delay the extradition trial until he's left with no money to defend himself...and then win by default. Is that what they call "justice"?

Does anyone on HN actually read about this case from credible sources or just parrot the biased reporting from Torrentfreak that Dotcom is a hero because he gave you free movies? Dotcoms laywers agreed to delaying his extradition hearing until next year because it is not possible for it to take place next month due to all of the still outstanding issues related to his mansion raid possibly being illegal. It has nothi…

Dotcom would disagree:

> Dotcom complained about the delay in postings on Twitter today.

“Dirty delay tactics by the U.S.,” he wrote on the social media site. “They destroyed my business. Took all my assets. Time does the rest.”

The NZ prosecutor and DOJ screwed this so badly they'll need at least a year to get the same response. In the meantime, the business is still shut and no one is getting paid.

Re: Kim Dotcom Will Go to the US in Exchange for Legal Funds

#70

Post by yardie » Wed, Jul 11, 2012, 7:33 AM UTC

picklefish wrote: post #13

When I saw that the extradition was postponed to March 2013 I figured it was another move by the US to draw this saga out as long as possible. It makes sense for Kim and his team to respond "screw that we're coming over now and you hurry this shit up so we can win our case and start our business back up." His lawyers must believe without a doubt that they have this case in the bag. It seems fairly obvious that from t…

I'm curious to know if he waived his right to speedy trial? If he hasn't, his US legal team is ready, and the prosecutor isn't this will be over in 30 days.