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    Bail rules prevent Kim Dotcom from using Internet

    By NICK PERRY | Associated Press – Thu, Feb 23, 2012

    WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom made his fortune and even took his name from the Internet, but now he's barred from logging on.

    Dotcom, accused by U.S. authorities of facilitating millions of illegal downloads through the file-sharing website, has been ordered not to access the Internet as part of his bail conditions. Another unusual condition: No helicopters can land at his home.

    Dotcom was arrested in New Zealand in a high-profile raid Jan. 20 and was released Wednesday. New Zealand court authorities disclosed his bail conditions Thursday after The Associated Press and other media requested the information.

    Under the terms of his release, Dotcom may leave his Auckland home only for approved outings such as court appearances and medical appointments. He is banned from contacting three Megaupload colleagues who were also arrested during the New Zealand raid and have also been released on bail pending extradition proceedings.

    U.S. authorities have charged Dotcom with racketeering. They say he and his colleagues cheated movie makers and songwriters out of half a billion dollars in copyright revenue while making a fortune for themselves.

    Dotcom did not have to post any monetary bond for his bail, a standard policy for New Zealand's district courts. He has an extradition hearing scheduled for August.

    Dotcom was born Kim Schmitz in Germany but legally changed his name.

     

    13 comments

    • Billy G
      Billy G  •  3 mths ago
      The fact that Kim Dotcom could be arrested for what he was doing is totally insane. Megaupload was merely a distribution network, not "pirates," and they would remove copyrighted content when asked to do so. I would equate what Megaupload did to what the FedEx (or any shipping company) does, which is delivering "packages" from point A to point B. For example, some people send stolen items through by FedEx, however, just because the FedEx ships the stolen items, it doesn't make it's CEO liable for running a "stolen goods distribution network."
    • cbeebe79
      cbeebe79  •  3 mths ago
      Yup because these corporations really would have made this .5 billion profit had this guy not been around. If i see a free balloon, you bet I am going to take it. But if i have to pay, I am going to take someone's else word that the balloon sucked
    • truedat
      truedat  •  3 mths ago
      as far as this article goes. this is another example of US politics trying to police the world. simply put they need to stand down. www stands for world wide web not US wide web. yes it was invented here but it was givin to the world and not some grumpy politician on a hill that get there pockets lined by corporations so they can monopolize any form of comunication.
      • smacabraca
        smacabraca 3 mths ago
        Actually, the people who make movies and music and stuff need to get off the government's back and go do their own footwork.

        These guys, though, made illegal profits. It's a big difference between people like them who make money off others and people who simply host a sharing site and reap no benefits.
      • Markus
        Markus 3 mths ago
        Well if you're infringing upon US rights and commiting crimes against the US or it's citizens, that is exactly why there is a thing called extradition.

        You wouldn't expect to log onto your computers, cause all kind of crimes and frauds in another country,and not expect to be charged by their government would you? Grow up.
      • truedat
        truedat 3 mths ago
        if the crime was committed in New Zealand it should be tried in New Zealand. extradition is for crimes commited in the nation and to have them brought back for justices sake. if I go to Canada comit a crime I wouldn't be extradited back to the U.S. i would be tried there.
    • Ivan V
      Ivan V  •  3 mths ago
      So he will just have to dictate someone else what to do on his computer.
    • F_yourtwoparties_IamaInde ...
      F_yourtwoparties_IamaInde ...  •  3 mths ago
      Is someone in that picture giving Kim Dotcom the pillsbury poke?
    • Otto Pilot
      Otto Pilot  •  Spring Branch, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      Sometimes irony can be pretty ironic.
      - Buck Murdoch
    • TedM
      TedM  •  Danville, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      So the U.S. goes after this guy but leaves China free to do this kind of stuff as much as they want? (sigh)
    • E
      E  •  Valley Springs, California  •  3 mths ago
      But can he get back on XBox live?
    • Raylan
      Raylan  •  3 mths ago
      preventing one from accessing free information is a violation of human rights, thanks dumb court rulings
    • Clive Sandringham
      Clive Sandringham  •  Portland, Maine  •  3 mths ago
      Why aren't the Free Market GOPers outraged by this? He's a billionaire who steals...just like Romney et al.
    • bobby
      bobby  •  Boston, Massachusetts  •  3 mths ago
      People who say what he did isn't wrong don't understand what's going on.
      He made a profit off of selling music, movies, and tv shows that he didn't own the rights to. If he would have paid all of them the money he owed then he wouldn't be in trouble.
      If he didn't charge money, he wouldn't be in trouble.
    • Concerned
      Concerned  •  Tampa, Florida  •  3 mths ago
      so much for the court presuming innocence befor trial. other than posting bail, why would court restrict his ability to earn prior to trial? because the judge is violating constitutional rights.
    • truedat
      truedat  •  3 mths ago
      first
      • Clive Sandringham
        Clive Sandringham 3 mths ago
        Many posters have given you "thumbs down" for being first! Not me! You won fair and square!
     Post a comment
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