Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Dotcom is looking for information that proves unlawful or corrupt conduct by the US government. Youtube/3 news

Remember Megavideo? Its founder is offering €3.7mn for dirt on the US Government

Kim Dotcom is being prosecuted by US authorities for piracy but is fighting extradition from New Zealand.

INTERNET MOGUL KIM Dotcom is offering a US$5 million “bounty” to whistleblowers for information to help fight an online piracy case brought by the United States.

The Megaupload founder, who is resisting extradition from New Zealand, said he had to resort to offering the money because the deck was stacked against him in one of the largest copyright infringement cases ever brought.

Dotcom, whose Megaupload empire was shut down in January 2012, has long argued that US authorities, aided by close ally Wellington, illegally targeted him at the behest of Hollywood studios.

He told tech news website TorrentFreak.com that the multi-million dollar offer was aimed at helping him prove that allegation.

“We are asking for information that proves unlawful or corrupt conduct by the US government, the New Zealand government, spy agencies, law enforcement and Hollywood,” he said.

“It is the opinion of my legal team that disclosure of such information would be lawful. I would also guarantee any whistleblower coming forward would have the best legal representation at zero cost.”

Dotcom’s extradition hearing is scheduled to begin in Auckland on 7 July, although it has already been delayed several times amid legal wrangling over evidence disclosure.

If the 40-year-old and his three co-accused are sent to the United States they will face charges of racketeering, money laundering and copyright theft carrying potential jail terms of 20 years.

News - Kim Dotcom Trial - Coatesville - New Zealand Kim Dotcom's near Auckland. (Jan 2012) Natalie Slade / PA Natalie Slade / PA / PA

Dotcom has launched a new venture called Mega while on bail.

The US Justice Department and FBI claim Megaupload and related sites netted more than US$175 million in criminal proceeds, and cost copyright owners more than US$500 million by offering pirated copies of movies, TV shows and other content.

Major music labels and the film industry in the US have also filed lawsuits against the file-sharing site.

© – AFP 2014

Author
View 46 comments
Close
46 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute B9xiRspG
    Favourite B9xiRspG
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 8:53 AM

    Isn’t this the same test site that collapsed a few months ago?

    85
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neal Ireland Hello.
    Favourite Neal Ireland Hello.
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 9:34 AM

    @B9xiRspG: Yes. It was outiving it’s useful life and would hace had to be shit down soon to avoid becoming dangerous.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Greg Cavey
    Favourite Greg Cavey
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 10:46 AM

    @Neal Ireland Hello.: That must be one dangerous shit

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip Murphy
    Favourite Philip Murphy
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 9:08 AM

    Massive win for Daddy (Trump)

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Conway
    Favourite Sean Conway
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 9:33 AM

    @Philip Murphy: That’s what he thinks.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
    Favourite Mel Fitzpatrick
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 10:00 AM

    @Philip Murphy: good one

    9
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip Murphy
    Favourite Philip Murphy
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 12:51 PM

    @Mel Fitzpatrick: Trump, the despicable human being has offered to completely revamp and modernise NK if the war is officially ended. Sit on that.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
    Favourite Mel Fitzpatrick
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 1:00 PM

    @Philip Murphy: if you believe this charade, fair play to ya.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip Murphy
    Favourite Philip Murphy
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 1:07 PM

    @Mel Fitzpatrick: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44091279US offers to help rebuild N Korea economy if it denuclearises
    BBC News – May 11, 2018

    We can pretend it’s all a charade just for you : )

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
    Favourite Mel Fitzpatrick
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 1:30 PM

    @Philip Murphy: I understand Philip what has been said by Trump and Kim but this will simply not happen.

    If North Korea demilitarises  its nuclear capability there is no room for Kimmie anymore.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dotty Dunleary
    Favourite Dotty Dunleary
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 8:51 AM

    Send in Hans Blix!

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JayDoge
    Favourite JayDoge
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 12:29 PM
    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pearse Mc Mullen
    Favourite Pearse Mc Mullen
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 11:51 AM

    John Bolton also said last night, that North Korea must give over all of it`s Nukes to the US before any sanctions are lifted, he wants them stored in Oak Ridge Tennessee.

    Bolton did not say whether the weapons should be stored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory or the nearby Y-12 National Security Complex, whose primary mission is nuclear weapons production.
    the Y-12 facility is the same place where equipment and documents from Libya’s nuclear and ballistic program were shipped and stored after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi agreed to dismantle his weapons of mass destruction in 2003.

    ….Then Nato bombed Libya into the stone age in 2011, Gaddafi was overthrown, and Libya became an open slave market run by head choppers,
    Be careful when you do business with the US.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steven Fitzpatrick
    Favourite Steven Fitzpatrick
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 12:26 PM

    @Pearse Mc Mullen: the d1(ks are coming to f u

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ManUtdMan
    Favourite ManUtdMan
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 11:01 AM

    I can’t help but think this is a stunt & was planned all along.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute BananaRepublic1922
    Favourite BananaRepublic1922
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 9:32 AM

    Country number six dealt with for the time being under PNAC just Iran left…..I take it the north koreans know that any agreement with the US you wouldn’t wipe your arse with.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dae Monicus
    Favourite Dae Monicus
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 10:15 AM

    @BananaRepublic1922: And you certainly won’t have anything left to wipe your arse with.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Justin Forde
    Favourite Justin Forde
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 7:12 PM

    “Completely destroy” = test nuke on it?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Murphy
    Favourite Peter Murphy
    Report
    May 15th 2018, 4:12 PM

    North Korea are delighed that USA are going to pump money into their deflated and broken country. I hope China has a part to play as they have been funding them for decades.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.