An Internet Pirate On the Cybersea

[Generic Other]

With great fanfare they arrested Dr. Evil in NZ.

Details of the arrest:WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand police on Saturday revealed bizarre details of the arrest of the suspected kingpin of an Internet copyright theft case against the James Bond-like backdrop of a country mansion hideaway with electronic locks, a safe room and a pink Cadillac.

A police official said dozens of officers, backed by helicopters, forced their way into the mansion, nestled in lush, rolling farmland, after Dotcom refused them entry, a scene more reminiscent of a high-octane spy drama than the usual policeman's lot in rural New Zealand.

<snip>
Officers broke the locks and Dotcom barricaded himself into a safe room which officers had to cut their way through to gain access.

"Once they gained entry into this room, they found Mr Dotcom near a firearm which had the appearance of a shortened shotgun," he said. "It was definitely not as simple as knocking at the front door."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/21/kim-dotcom-megaupload-arrest_n_1220491.html?ref=technology&ref=technology#s626684&title=Kim_Dotcoms_Car

"Downfall of 'Dr Evil': Guns, luxury cars and millions in cash seized from 'internet pirate'" screams the headline from the Telegraph.

According to the article, Kim Dotcom, 37 – nicknamed Dr Evil has both Finnish and German citizenship but was arrested in a 30 million dollar mansion in New Zealand. His website MegaUpload allows users to download files pirated movies, music, video games, and e-books. He made 42 million dollars off the ad revenue alone doing this last year. Every time his users downloaded content. He paid for the city of Aukland's to have a fireworks celebration when they granted him residency there.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2089138/Megaupload-shut-Police-raid-reveals-Kim-Dotcoms-multimillion-dollar-wealth.html#ixzz1k8Qx8Pl5



Yet the same day SOPA gets soundly defeated by an online protest, the FBI goes after this cyber pirate. Mr. Dotcom. And Anonymous goes after the DOJ.
Does this sound a little like a comic book plot? I was disappointed not to read that they hadn't called in the caped crusader. Pretty exciting crime in the cyber copyright world. And Anonymous involved as well. Just another day in Gotham City.

[hlthe2b]

1. Geebus... You'd have thought he was the world's most wanted terrorist...

If only the thieving bankers who bankrupted our economy were taken so seriously.

[Generic Other]

2. Technically he wasn't violating copyright is my thinking

His users were. Isn't that the way the law stands now? If users upload content, it is not the responsibility of the provider? Is he really doing anything illegal?

He's not making or distributing copies of anything. He's an address -- a URL. A mailbox. Not a point of origin.

How do they argue their case against him?

[Generic Other]

4. Oh, he makes money off the ad revenue

So that's the only real charge that they could make stick maybe. Fraudulently profiting off someone else's intellectual property.

[Warren DeMontague]

3. Wait. His REAL name is "Dotcom"?

No, that isn't right.

[Generic Other]

5. No it is Schmidt or something

He's German. But Dotcom has such a comic book villain ring, don't you think? And he's 6'7" and 300 lbs. A very imposing villain.

[Warren DeMontague]

7. Not so imposing I'd feel threatened if he was chasing me through Gotham City on foot.

Seriously, dude needs a few less cars and maybe a couple bikes, instead.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Okay. In my opinion, "evil" is, say, putting Jews in Auschwitz, or massacring civilians in My Lai.

"Evil" is not operating a server farm where some people get old episodes of The Gilmore Girls without having to watch ads or pay ABC for them.

[Generic Other]

8. He stole 42 million dollars from the uberclass

I'm guessing that was the crime. The scammers hate getting scammed. He's getting ad revenue, since he is not even downloading anything or selling anything himself. Just the host. They are going to make him pay. And you're right he doesn't look evil per se, but you have never listened to one of his infomercials!

[Warren DeMontague]

9. Wait. He makes infomercials?

I take it back. Fucko is evil.

[Generic Other]

10. He has a youtube channel promoting himself

http://www.youtube.com/user/MrKimDotcom