Kim Dotcom Wants Money From Google, Twitter For 2-Factor Authentication 122
Nyder writes "Kim Dotcom posted via Twitter, with a link to Torrentfreak, that he owns a security patent US6078908, titled 'Method for authorizing in data transmission systems.'" Techdirt points out that Dotcom isn't just asking for financial help: Instead, he's asking companies which use two-factor authentication "to help fund his defense, in exchange for not getting sued for the patent. He points out that his actual funds are still frozen by the DOJ and (more importantly) that his case actually matters a great deal to Google, Facebook and Twitter, because the eventual ruling will likely set a precedent that may impact them -- especially around the DMCA."
Update: 05/23 14:23 GMT by T : Why is this relevant to Twitter? If you're not an active Twitter user, you might not realize that (after some well publicized twitter-account hijackings), the company is trying to regain some ground on security. Nerval's Lobster writes
"Twitter is now offering two-factor authentication, a feature that could help prevent embarrassing security breaches. Twitter users interested in activating two-factor authentication will need to head over to their account settings page and click the checkbox beside 'Require a verification code when I sign in.'"
Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)
Kim-Dot-Con (Score:5, Interesting)
It bears mentioning that Kim Dotcom was once named Kimble Schwartz, who basically went from one moneymaking scheme to another. Kimvestor, for example, got him jailed for securities violations. YIHAT was a front of an organization that tried to rally people around hacking terrorists. The list goes on and on. About 15 years ago he was noted as being a fraud in the security space, despite claiming to be a hacker. I think he got lucky with Megaupload, but now he's back to his old usual failing-yet-highly-vocal self.
Go ahead, sue Google (Score:5, Interesting)
See what happens.
Re:Kim-Dot-Con (Score:5, Interesting)
Say what you will.... (Score:2, Interesting)
Whatever you may think or say about Kim, he's got some interesting moves. (I don't yet have much of a viewpoint on him beyond what I just said, being too busy learning to make good popcorn and trying to follow what's what.)
Is this a really a plea for help, or extortion, or patent-trolling (the latter two might be synonymous)?
On the related matter, I've not read the whole law and am curious: Are violations of DMCA to be pursued under civil or criminal law? Or either one or both depending on circumstance?
Re:Go ahead, sue Google (Score:5, Interesting)
Prior Art - ATM? (Score:4, Interesting)
It baffles me that two-factor authentication patents can be valid. Haven't ATM machines always done that (One factor - the ATM card, the second factor is the PIN)? What about USB key+password decryption? I know the patent system is broken, but this should get thrown out when challenged. More interesting, what advice is Dotcom's lawyer giving him? Or does New Zealand legal system not provide lawyers to someone arrested there who can't afford one?