New Zealand to extradite Megaupload founder to US

Kim Dotcom, born in Germany and resident of New Zealand, was charged with multiple crimes related to the operation of Megaupload, a website that was shut down by the US government in 2012.

Kim Dotcom at court in Auckland, New Zealand in 2015. Photo: Nigel Marple / Reuters

Minister Goldsmith said that after careful consideration, he had decided that Dotcom should be extradited to the US to face trial. Dotcom responded on social media X and insisted that he would not be leaving New Zealand.

Dotcom and three other co-defendants were indicted by a US grand jury on charges including conspiracy to commit organized crime, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit copyright infringement and money laundering. They are accused of profiting from copyright infringement through Megaupload, but Dotcom and his co-defendants deny the charges and have vigorously fought extradition.

Three New Zealand courts have previously rejected their argument that they cannot be extradited because profiting from copyright infringement is not a crime in New Zealand. The final decision on extradition has been left to the New Zealand Attorney-General.

US law generally strongly protects the rights of copyright holders, but has also been criticized for stifling innovation and harming consumers, as well as imposing US copyright rules on other countries through free trade agreements.

Cao Phong (according to CNN, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/new-zealand-se-dan-do-nha-sang-lap-megaupload-sang-my-post307940.html