Kim Dotcom Says Hollywood Pressured US Government Into Piracy Charges

Posted: July 9th, 2012 | Author: Michael Courtenay | Filed under: CRIME!, Technoid Computer News | Tags: Bail, copyright, DeepField, fbi, File Sharing, Filesharing, Hollywood, Kim Dotcom, Kim Schmitz, Law Court, Megaupload, New Zealand, Piracy, SOPA, US Government, Whitehouse | No Comments »

MegaUpload founder Kim Dotcom claims Hollywood executives are pressuring the White House to tackle the file-sharing website. The US is trying to extradite Mr Dotcom from New Zealand to face racketeering, copyright and money laundering charges. American authorities claim his MegaUpload website facilitated internet piracy and cost copyright owners more than $US500 million.

The US Government indictment goes after six individuals. the case is a major one, involving international cooperation between the US, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, Canada, Philippines and New Zealand. In addition to the arrests, 20 search warrants were executed in multiple countries.

Kim Dotcom was one of four men arrested in New Zealand in January this year as part of an investigation of his Megaupload.com website led by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation ::::

The US government, in its indictment against the Megaupload said that the company had raised US$175 million since its inception, most coming from users who paid for premium download accounts.

However, Mr Dotcom says he’s broken no laws, but US authorities are trying to appease studio executives.

“Hollywood is one of the most significant contributors to the campaign of Obama and his re-election,” he said. ”So when you look at all of this, I think it’s really a very commercial interest by the United States and they are trying to defend an outdated business model.”

Kim Dotcom was one of four men arrested in January as part of an investigation of his Megaupload.com website led by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Prosecutors say Dotcom was the ringleader of a group that had netted $US175 million since 2005 by copying and distributing music, movies and other copyrighted content without authorisation.

His lawyers say the company only offered online storage.

Mr Dotcom added there were people speaking out in his defence.

“They are trying to make me liable for actions of third parties that have used my cloud storage site,” he said.

“And I think, as you can also see, there are experts speaking out for my defence, including icons, technology icons like Steve Wozniak, who say it’s outrageous, it’s unheard of,” he said.

The extradition hearing for Kim Dotcom and his three co-accused is set for August.