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Kim Dotcom, who founded Megaupload, a file storage site that is being prosecuted on piracy charges for copyright infringement, has cited the deplorable overkill authorities used in his arrest, when they invaded his mansion with helicopters and a swat force, and when then, upon finding him in his safe room, they viciously attacked him.
As he said in court, he heard the ruckus and fled to his safe room. “And then they were all over me. I had a punch to the face, boots kicking me down to the floor.”
“I was screaming and I was in pain … I told them there was no need for punching me or hurting me and please stop.”
If this is an accurate account of his arrest, it is unclear why police would resort to such a violent arrest for a man not accused of any violent crimes. What Dotcom is being charged with regards the $175 million he earned from Megaupload.com, which as he explained to the court was “hosting 12 billion unique files for over 100 million users.” It was one of many online sites carrying on the tradition of Napster’s early days that provide access for users to share files with other users, avoiding the pesky business of paying for copyrighted material. Such companies as Megaupload are facing the same legislation that crippled the Pirate’s Bay website and others.
That the business was lucrative for Kim is beyond a doubt. The police confiscated luxury cars and artwork from his mansion. Nevertheless, the court has since ruled the raid and seizure illegal, and will decide later this week what to do with what they took. The hearing is schedule to last till Thursday, at which time the New Zealand court will have determined if U.S. authorities have the right to extradite Dotcom for internet piracy, money laundering, and breach of contract charges.
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