Megaupload: Court ruling can extradite Kim Dotcom to the US

A New Zealand court has ruled that Kim Dotcom, the Megaupload founder, can be extradited to the United States.

Dotcom and former Megaupload executives, Bram van der Kolk, Mathias Ortmann and Finn Batato, are facing trial to extradite them from New Zealand to the U.S. on 13 charges related to internet piracy, organized crime and money laundering among others.

If convicted, they could face decades in jail. Judge Nevin Dawson said the prosecution had established there was a case for all four defendants to answer.

I'm truly sorry to all Kiwis that my case is ruining the image of New Zealand as an independent country that stands up to bullies. #USNZ

— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) December 24, 2015

I wonder why someone who was spreading happiness all over the Internet should be extradited or go to jail.

Happiness, that's my crime ;-)

— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) December 24, 2015

The case has been watched closely by the media and the file-sharing industry for signs of how far Washington is willing to go to protect Hollywood studios and other US copyright holders.

New Zealand’s justice minister is expected to make a final decision on whether Dotcom will be handed over to the United States.