Kim Dotcom Asset Seizure Declared Null and Void

Kim Dotcom leaves the High Court in Auckland, New Zealand.Phil Doyle/Fairfax Media/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

A procedural error in court documents may force New Zealand authorities to return millions of dollars in personal property to Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom. The property, which includes luxury cars and cash, were seized under a type of court order that should not have been granted, a judge ruled last week. The order has since been declared null and void, though unless his attorneys can prove the authorities acted in bad faith, he is unlikely to actually get his property back.

Dotcom was arrested in January at his mansion outside Auckland at the request of the United States government. U.S. prosecutors filed papers to extradite the MegaUpload founder earlier this month. Dotcom faces up to 20 years in prison on charges of criminal copyright infringement and money-laundering on a massive scale.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon MP3 Download Center

Read more »

Kim Dotcom Asset Seizure Declared Null and Void

Kim Dotcom leaves the High Court in Auckland, New Zealand.Phil Doyle/Fairfax Media/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

A procedural error in court documents may force New Zealand authorities to return millions of dollars in personal property to Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom. The property, which includes luxury cars and cash, were seized under a type of court order that should not have been granted, a judge ruled last week. The order has since been declared null and void, though unless his attorneys can prove the authorities acted in bad faith, he is unlikely to actually get his property back.

Dotcom was arrested in January at his mansion outside Auckland at the request of the United States government. U.S. prosecutors filed papers to extradite the MegaUpload founder earlier this month. Dotcom faces up to 20 years in prison on charges of criminal copyright infringement and money-laundering on a massive scale.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

Read more »

U.S. Prosecutors File to Extradite Kim Dotcom

Kim Dotcom leaves the High Court in Auckland, New Zealand, after the crown appeal against his bail was refused. Phil Doyle/Fairfax Media/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

Federal prosecutors in the United States have filed papers in New Zealand requesting the extradition of Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom and three of his partners, who have been charged with criminal copyright infringement and money-laundering on a massive scale. Dotcom and his colleagues are currently under house arrest in New Zealand, with an extradition hearing set for August.

Megaupload, one of the world's top file-sharing sites for music, movies, games and other pirated files, was shut down by the FBI and the Department of Justice on January 20th. Dotcom, born Kim Schmitz, could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty on these charges.

Prosecutors are also seeking extradition for Dotcom's partners, Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk, each of whom held senior positions at Megaupload before it was shut down.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon MP3 Download Center

Read more »

U.S. Prosecutors File to Extradite Kim Dotcom

Kim Dotcom leaves the High Court in Auckland, New Zealand, after the crown appeal against his bail was refused. Phil Doyle/Fairfax Media/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

Federal prosecutors in the United States have filed papers in New Zealand requesting the extradition of Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom and three of his partners, who have been charged with criminal copyright infringement and money-laundering on a massive scale. Dotcom and his colleagues are currently under house arrest in New Zealand, with an extradition hearing set for August.

Megaupload, one of the world's top file-sharing sites for music, movies, games and other pirated files, was shut down by the FBI and the Department of Justice on January 20th. Dotcom, born Kim Schmitz, could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty on these charges.

Prosecutors are also seeking extradition for Dotcom's partners, Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk, each of whom held senior positions at Megaupload before it was shut down.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

Read more »

Megaupload Founder Kim Dotcom Preps Album

A sign reading 'dotcom mansion' is seen at the roadside entrance of Kim Dotcom's home in Auckland, New Zealand.

Trouble Megaupload co-founder Kim Dotcom was recently charged with racketeering and copyright infringement by the United States Department of Justice and has been remanded in custody after being arrested at his New Zealand mansion. But that is not stopping him from planning to release his own album in the near future with producers who have previously worked with the Black Eyed Peas, Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton and Mariah Carey.

MTV Hive reports that Dotcom has been working with Beets & Produce, the production team behind the "Megaupload Mega Song," a song endorsing his now-defunct file-sharing site. "It is a phenomenal project," Joseph "Papo" Besson, Beets & Produce's VP of operations, told MTV. "Printz Board is producing this project with Kim. I am coordinating the logistics of the release, as well as consulting on the artwork. Printz Board is executing the vision that Kim has for this project to the letter. Kim is also pushing the limits with this project. He has some huge surprises for everyone. The mix of a musical genius in Printz and an actual genius in Kim Dotcom will be history in the making, I'm sure of it."

As of yet, no timeline has been set for the completion or release of Dotcom's album.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon MP3 Download Center

Read more »

Megaupload Founder Kim Dotcom Preps Album

A sign reading 'dotcom mansion' is seen at the roadside entrance of Kim Dotcom's home in Auckland, New Zealand.

Trouble Megaupload co-founder Kim Dotcom was recently charged with racketeering and copyright infringement by the United States Department of Justice and has been remanded in custody after being arrested at his New Zealand mansion. But that is not stopping him from planning to release his own album in the near future with producers who have previously worked with the Black Eyed Peas, Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton and Mariah Carey.

MTV Hive reports that Dotcom has been working with Beets & Produce, the production team behind the "Megaupload Mega Song," a song endorsing his now-defunct file-sharing site. "It is a phenomenal project," Joseph "Papo" Besson, Beets & Produce's VP of operations, told MTV. "Printz Board is producing this project with Kim. I am coordinating the logistics of the release, as well as consulting on the artwork. Printz Board is executing the vision that Kim has for this project to the letter. Kim is also pushing the limits with this project. He has some huge surprises for everyone. The mix of a musical genius in Printz and an actual genius in Kim Dotcom will be history in the making, I'm sure of it."

As of yet, no timeline has been set for the completion or release of Dotcom's album.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

Read more »