Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE UNITED STATES has filed a formal request for the founder of the file-sharing website Megaupload to be extradited from New Zealand to face accusations of fraud and other crimes.
The site’s operators are accused of costing copyright holders more than $500 million (€380 million) in lost revenue.
US federal prosecutors filed the papers on Friday, requesting that founder Kim Dotcom and three of his colleagues – Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk – be brought to the United States to answer to charges including the illegal distribution of copyrighted films and music, conspiracy to commit racketeering, money laundering, copyright infringement, and criminal copyright infringement.
Megaupload, and its subsidiary Megavideo, was shut down in January following a major action against piracy by the US Department of Justice and the FBI. Dotcom and several other figures at the company were also arrested.
Last week, Dotcom was granted bail and released after a New Zealand judge determined that authorities have seized any funds he might have used to flee the country. He and his colleagues now remain under house arrest in New Zealand.
Dotcom, who was born in Germany and legally changed his name from Kim Schmitz, has said US authorities cherry-picked emails and other evidence in a way that was “misleading and malicious.” He said some Megaupload workers were tasked with taking down any material that might infringe copyright, but US authorities say they only deleted individual links, without removing pirated material.
The US has also charged three men in Europe in the case. One of those men, Andrus Nomm, was arrested by Dutch police in January.
Additional reporting by the Associated Press
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Going to be a huge waste in tax payer money on this.
Reminds me of the 100ks euro being spent on reports getting them translated to Irish , yet time and time again nobody ever requests the Irish reports.
Having 20% being Irish is out of step with Irish population, no where near 20% of this country’s population chooses Irish as their first language
@Barry Somers: maybe have them 100% available in Irish only. English translation by request only. Maybe that would encourage people to improve their Irish. What’s your plan? Just give up on your country’s beautiful indigenous language..?
@Diaspora’d: oh I see, you are trying the same tactic as the education system when it comes to Irish by forcing it on people.
Remind me again just how much its failed for decades where people leave school with hardly a word of Irish.
It’s failed utterly in our education system but it seems that doesn’t stop you.
@Barry Somers: Actually it’s because it’s never been properly implemented. Still can’t understand why kids in Ireland are not all educated in all-Irish primary and secondary schools. All-Irish schools are an excellent way to give kids the ability to be bilingual and then be able to pick up other languages too. It’s no hindrance to their overall education and I also can’t understand why Irish people who are proud of their identity would be so willing to let their indigenous language die.
Faoi dheireadh! Dea nuacht don Ghaeilge.
Before any of the nay sayers comment here. This won’t actually cost anything. Asking that a proportion of the messages already sent out by departments be done as Gaeilge makes sense. It’s a shame to see government departments putting out English only messaging on social media
20% employment will be a great encouragement for young people to engage with the language more in school and college.
@Aodhán Ó Deá: Aontaím go hiomlán
Visit the so-called Irish-speaking areas (Dingle is a prime example) and listen to the languages spoken. English, of course, and, depending on the time of year, Polish is next and then German and French. The pretence is embarrassing. The only place I know of that comes remotely close to being a Gaeltacht is Carraroe, Co Galway but it’s nowhere near what it was when I lived there years ago. We didn’t need Gaeltacht signs back then; the predominant language was Irish. Today is quite a different story. Time to face reality. Sad but true.
Ar feabhas!
Irish is Marbh.
Waste of money
More people speak polish than Irish
have your say