Tech entrepreneur Kim Dotcom has been making headlines in New Zealand for well over a decade now. It seems that the saga might be starting to draw to a close, as the Justice Minister signs his extradition order https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350380271/justice-minister-signs-kim-dotcoms-extradition-order
I had a brief interview with Mike Hoskin on Newstalk ZB on Friday https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/barrister-clive-elliott-on-the-kim-dotcom-saga/6P6FQ7AXAXD2DJ2DGSDHPCNMSU/#google_vignette
In my view, the following additional points can be made:
- If the US Justice Department’s allegations are correct, Megaupload was a major infringer of copyright, which is why I described it in the interview as infringement on an industrial scale, if proven of course.
- Kim Dotcom seems to have exhausted almost all his legal remedies and certain of his former associates have made plea bargains to get shorter sentences, so he is the last and “biggest” man standing.
- I don’t think anyone can fairly say that the New Zealand judicial system has not given him a fair hearing.
- Importantly, we have an extradition treaty with the USA, and as a country that values the rule of law, we have to uphold our end of the bargain and our reciprocal obligations.
I wrote about this issue way back in 2012 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/crime/clive-elliott-kim-dotcom-pirate-or-enabler/UJ2S542AAPZS2EO2C5SDM7EUVM/ Twelve years later, the story is not entirely over, and there is no doubt more water to flow under the bridge.
