Dotcom Alleges Megaupload Raid Was Part of Deal To Film The Hobbit 112
c0lo writes "Kim Dotcom alleges, in an 20 min interview with the Australian public television, that Megaupload was offered up by the New Zealand's PM 'on a silver platter' as part of negotiations with Warner Brothers executives for shooting The Hobbit in New Zealand. He promises that he'll substantiate the claims in court. He also says that the extradition case the U.S. government is weak and the reason behind the latest delay in extradition hearing (postponed from August this year to March next year) is an attempt to bleed Dotcom dry of his money. Also interesting, Dotcom says that the latest debacle of the massive scale online online surveillance by U.S. spy agencies has triggered an 'explosion' of interest in mega.co.nz, the 'cloud storage' site with user generated encryption."
I for one welcome our new fat internet overlord (Score:3, Funny)
I'm also switching from Gmail to Megamail, even if it doesn't erase my Google history.
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As long as the NZ government prefers to be a lap dog to Uncle Sam, you can switch to "Gigamail" or "zentagigantamail" also they can tap your emails
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Warner Brothers exec was overheard saying... (Score:2, Funny)
Conspiracy theory? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Conspiracy theory? (Score:5, Interesting)
Easy enough to look at the trends right? Just take a look at the current scandals going on from the IRS, to attacks on reporters, to silencing political opposition groups. And it's not that far of a stretch at all.
IRS? WTF? (Score:3)
Did you ever hear of wikileaks??? Do you know what they did to the US state dept?
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Did you ever hear of wikileaks??? Do you know what they did to the US state dept?
They did to the US state dept what the NSA does to everyone.
Re:Conspiracy theory? (Score:5, Insightful)
"conspiracy theories"
It think the concept of "conspiracy theories" died a few years ago, right about the time when it was confirmed beyond all doubt that our government had/has a torture program, has an assassination program, has secret prisons, has a mass surveillance system on innocent citizens, is actively lying to our allies, is actively lying to us, is actively lying to congress, etc. About the only conspiracy theories that are still on the books are the ones involving Aliens & UFOs, so far.
Not a surprise (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Not a surprise (Score:5, Insightful)
Civil rights, Hollywood movie. Most people chose the latter.
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Mon Mothma: (with gravitas). Many freedoms...died...to bring us this Radagast.
That guy... (Score:1)
he's good at what he does, whatever he's actually doing...
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He is good at what he does, and I can't figure it out either
1. Comes up with believable (albeit conspiratorial) story lines railing against government and big industry, and that you have proof
2. Say your business model is a protection against intrusive government and industry
3. Profit???
NZ's PM retiring to his Hawaiian mansion. (Score:5, Interesting)
When John Key is done with politics, he'll be packing his bags and leaving New Zealand for his very nice place in Hawaii. Right now he is finalising the deals selling off NZ's state-owned (ie taxpayer-owned) assets. He is guaranteed a knighthood, and several boardroom positions with the newly-privatised companies.
Not bad for a couple years in politics. Of course, he was previously a currency trader with the nickname "the smiling assassin" so it's no surprise to learn that he was already wealthy (NZ$50m +) before entering politics, but he's one hell of a lot richer now. Between the MPAA bribe money and the shares he gained in sweetheart deals from the state-asset firesales to friends, this guy will be sitting even prettier.
All I can say to the USA is "You're welcome to the cunt."
(Oh, and I forgot to mention that he only became Prime Minister of NZ as a result of his leaking to the media the sensitive private emails of his then-boss Don Brash, thus causing his resignation. Key grabbed that throne before the cushion even had time to cool.)
Re:NZ's PM retiring to his Hawaiian mansion. (Score:5, Informative)
In 1995, he joined Merrill Lynch as head of Asian foreign exchange in Singapore. That same year he was promoted to Merrill's global head of foreign exchange, based in London, where he may have earned around US$2.25 million a year including bonuses, which is about NZ$5 million at 2001 exchange rates.Some co-workers called him "the smiling assassin" for maintaining his usual cheerfulness while sacking dozens (some say hundreds) of staff after heavy losses from the 1998 Russian financial crisis. He was a member of the Foreign Exchange Committee of the New York Federal Reserve Bank from 1999 to 2001.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Key
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When John Key is done with politics, he'll be packing his bags and leaving New Zealand for his very nice place in Hawaii.
Sounds like Ferdinand Marcos...
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The people get the leader they deserve. Even in the U.S.
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The asset sale policy may very well be quite annoying to a lot of people, however Key made it clear that asset sales were necessary when he was campaigning for his second term. In short, "Give me the mandate."
Well, we voted him in for a second term. Now we're shocked and horrified that he's selling the assets to us on our stock exchange?
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A few voted for him, but the majority did not, therefore the majority did not want him.
So after he cut his boss's head off for the party leadership he went on to commit the slickest election fraud in New Zealand history?
Is there no end to this man's villainy?
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How about some perspective.
The assets are being sold from the NZ government, to mostly the NZ population. The money made is being used to keep debt repayment insurance low, and help pay for new health infrastructure like hospitals.
Mr Key was born in a state owned house, with a single parent. He wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but hes made it to be the prime minster of our country.
I believe its a wise choice for leader, that we pick someone who (despite the poor start in life,) manages to be su
Hard to know who to believe here (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Hard to know who to believe here (Score:5, Interesting)
> Kim Dotcom's main business seems to be publicity for Kim Dotcom
Yes, that has always been his thing.
Whom to believe? Both are equally morally broken and liars. They are in it for power and money.
Yet, Dotcom serves a purpose by undermining the much, much bigger evil so in this case I'm strongly for him. He is a horrible person and the world would be a much better place without such types, but if he's doing his part in bringing attention to the Real Evil the early 21th century faces, then... I am accepting this. Sometimes you need to fight fire with fire.
Re:Hard to know who to believe here (Score:5, Insightful)
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First he manipulates them into preparing a series of suspicious denials and preoccupy them coming up with it.
a) Why would they do that if it isn't true?
Plus if he accidentally hits or something real he can scare the crap out of them into dropping it.
b) This isn't the sort of thing you can prove by accident. Either there's proof or there isn't.
(Of course, if there *is* proof they'll just claim he photoshopped it...it would have to be absolutely amazing proof for denial not to work - like the head of the FBI and three of the PM's best friends all siding with Kim Dotcom)
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When they stole the AS/400 from DG, they eventually got their asses handed to them.
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I didn't realize a quick settlement with EMC was getting their "asses handed to them". This lawsuit was very much debatable as IBM may very well have invented the technology in the 1970s but did not patent software (aka prior art). (Isn't that the sort of attitude we seem to extoll in 2013?). As far as I can tell, the quality of the patent was THE principal issue, which proving in court is a gamble. IBM does not gamble. At some point, (especially to IBM in 1999 whom was hurting at the time), it wa
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Not sure about NZ, but the days of surprise witnesses are pretty much over due to pre-trial discovery.
Re:Hard to know who to believe here (Score:4, Insightful)
Kim Dotcom's main business seems to be publicity for Kim Dotcom, with the evidence postponed to a future date.
Seems the guy has decided that he wants to fight this out in the court of public opinion. That's his right, especially given some of the public statements the US government has made about him one could even say that they started it.
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Seems the guy has decided that he wants to fight this out in the court of public opinion.
Yeah, cause everyone knows the US government hasn't publish any information or press releases related to his prosecution. Add we won't mention how silent the MPAA/RIAA trolls have been about the whole thing.
Re:Hard to know who to believe here (Score:5, Interesting)
What people mostly don't understand is that the world is not a Hollywood movie. Just because one side is the bad guys doesn't mean the other side is the good guy.
In this case, it's a power-greedy, corrupt government vs. a greedy, criminal egomaniac.
Let them tear each other apart and enjoy the show, because if you make the mistake of rooting with any of them, you're supporting the bad guys.
Kimble's business has always been himself. If the fact that he changed his last name to "Dotcom" didn't tell you as much, I'm not sure if a huge sign with neon letters will.
Re:Hard to know who to believe here (Score:4, Insightful)
Actually, if you're an American (I realize many people here are not) then whenever one of the bad guys is the US government, you do need to support the citizen (whether he's bad or good). Whenever your own government is bad, then it is necessary that they lose, no matter who the opponent and no matter how hard you have to hold your nose.
So, you are in support of the Unabomber, the 9/11 terrorists, every rapist and murderer out there as well as every single criminal ever?
Please explain your funny little theory to the parents of a little girl that was raped and killed at the trial of the guy who did it. That you support him because the government is evil.
if that's what it takes to force the government to obey they law.
You are making the false assumption that that's what it takes. But if you look at history, then the opposite is true: Every single example you've listed has made the US government more powerful and more out of control, not less.
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*lol*, no. The post I replied to specifically mentioned the 9/11 attackers as people to side with if it meant less government.
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Re-read the GP.
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What people mostly don't understand is that the world is not a Hollywood movie. Just because one side is the bad guys doesn't mean the other side is the good guy.
In this case, it's a power-greedy, corrupt government vs. a greedy, criminal egomaniac.
Let them tear each other apart and enjoy the show, because if you make the mistake of rooting with any of them, you're supporting the bad guys.
Kimble's business has always been himself. If the fact that he changed his last name to "Dotcom" didn't tell you as much, I'm not sure if a huge sign with neon letters will.
But the thing is that legal precedent is often based on unsavoury characters. Ernesto Miranda [wikipedia.org] was not a wonderful person, but the theory goes that if the law protects his rights then it should protect the rights of everyone else.
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'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'
Who is a worse threat to our freedoms, the copyright cartels or Kim Dotcom? I hope he helps to destroy them, although the cartels are so stuck in their ways that they might just destroy themselves.
And Kim D. has charisma, the cartels don't, they look and stink like s***
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Can't connect to mega.co.nz (Score:1, Offtopic)
I have a provider that still supplies Usenet/newsgroups as part of the service for no
extra cost (Charter.Net), yet I can't connect to mega.co.nz. I've searched
my HOSTS file, see that it's online http://pop.robtex.com/mega.co.nz.html#records [robtex.com]
I just can't connect, thepiratebay.sx not a problem.
Hope it's a misspelling, or temporary.
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Score -9 offtopic
and I thought it fairly on.
12 hours later I have access to mega.co.nz. Now to give it a serious look over.
Why not? We used to do it for bananas (Score:5, Informative)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Fruit_Company
So why not for protecting that other 'strategic' resource, films & music!
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Are these GMO bananas?
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When it gets down to it â" talking trade balances here â" once we've brain-drained all our technology into other countries, once things have evened out, they're making cars in Bolivia and microwave ovens in Tadzhikistan and selling them here â" once our edge in natural resources has been made irrelevant by giant Hong Kong ships and dirigibles that can ship North Dakota all the way to New Zealand for a nickel â" once the Invisible Hand has taken away all those historical inequities and sm
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- Hey, those are the only things we export*. Let's destroy every other industry so we can be a bit more sure that other countries will keep buying it.
* Except that this is not true, but, whatever.
Why bleed him dry? (Score:2)
Wait, I seem to recall they already got his assets frozen and unavailable to him?
If not, then there is nothing stopping them from doing so, so why the conspiracy to bleed him dry in court costs when they can just seize it over night?
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Keep if simple, stupid. (Score:3)
"Peter Jackson to shoot prequel to box office behemoth LOTR on location in New Zealand. Surprising no one."
Essentially the whole of Middle Earth has been mapped to locations in New Zealand. The Lord of the Rings film locations [newzealand.com] Your production facilities are there. Your costs are known.
You will in the end have six big budget feature length films that will look as if they were shot in the same world and time because they were shot in the same world and time. It is a strategy that has paid off handsomely for Warner Brothers before,
Re:Keep if simple, stupid. (Score:4, Interesting)
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The Hobbit films being filmed in NZ was not a foregone conclusion
Sure, that was the threat they made - but I can't help but think it was just a bluff our PM fell for.
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It`s cute how you believe he could have "fell" for something he was obviously implicit in and cashed out handsomely on.
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Time to dust off your face tattoos and your Patus and take your nation back.
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Does that include the bit where both Jackson and his partner were outed for discussing how they had already signed with Warner Brothers, with the NZ Government, yet they still publicly announced - before the law change - that the movies might still go elsewhere unless the law was changed?
Before you say "citation needed," hit google up. It'll give you the information you need. It was a big scandal a few weeks ago.
what was the law change? (Score:3)
Just curious, what change in the labour laws happened? Did it apply just to the film industry (e.g. actors, or film crews, conditions on a film set) or did it affect everybody in NZ (e.g. change in maximum working hours, minimum wages etc)?
Re:what was the law change? (Score:5, Informative)
It was all a bit underhanded, from what I remember.
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Just curious, what change in the labour laws happened?
Part of the answer [wikipedia.org]
Will anyone remember this? (Score:2)
So if & when he actually goes to trial, will anyone remember this ridiculous assertion? Or will Kim have to announce that the "evidence" has "mysteriously disappeared"?
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It's like an episode of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me... lots of ridiculous-sounding lies, but with an occasional nugget of truth inserted, just enough to make people think twice. He's clearly a superb self-promoter.
Easy Explanation (Score:5, Funny)
The US believes Kim is a hobbit-ual criminal....
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It does have the ring of truth to it.
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The US believes Kim is a hobbit-ual criminal....
And... is this a reason to dragon the suit forever?
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On the other hand, Peter Jackson spends a lot of time working out -- It's hobbit-firming.
And he can't stop taking bubble baths -- They're hobbit-foaming.
Did I mention that he's always out planting crops? It's hobbit-farming.
And that Chinese vase in his dining room? A fake. It's hobbit faux-ming.
(Blame David Morgan-Mar [irregularwebcomic.net] for these. I would throw a fireball at him, but that would be hobbit-fooming.)
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He's the new McAfee (Score:1)
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How can you have the new McAfee when you still have the old one? One of these posers has to go.
"Filthy, Tricksy Hobbitses!" (Score:2)
"Filthy, Tricksy Hobbitses!"
There. I said it first.
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Mod parent up. (Score:2)
Did anybody actually read some of the wikileaks? The US state dept is always doing things like this and the people making the "crazy" claims for decades were vindicated, those people should be listened to even more today (track record, duh. Meanwhile, people who are always wrong stay employed in US media outlets.)
NZ has an economy they do just fine on their own. But when huge movie projects come to promote their nation beyond what the tourism dept's could dream of doing, they'll CHANGE LAWS [guardian.co.uk]. This happen
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proving that laws were changed isn't really the goal. If KDC can prove that the PM or someone else offered him up as part of the deal? That's damning evidence. It should make kiwis stand up and question their government.
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You are joking aren't you? Playing out the "bomb is going to go off unless we torture somebody" bullshit that has never come close to happening in real life as some sort of way to feel better about the decline of the USA?
You wanted change? You got Chicago! (Score:4)
"Razzle Dazzle"
You got nothing to worry about.
It's all a circus, kid. A three ring circus.
These trials- the wholeworld- all show business.
But kid, you're working with a star, the biggest!
Give 'em the old razzle dazzle
Razzle Dazzle 'em
Give 'em an act with lots of flash in it
And the reaction will be passionate
Give 'em the old hocus pocus
Bead and feather 'em
How can they see with sequins in their eyes?
What if your hinges all are rusting?
What if, in fact, you're just disgusting?
How can they hear the truth above the roar?
Give 'em the old Razzle Dazzle
Razzle dazzle 'em
Show 'em the first rate sorceror you are
Long as you keep 'em way off balance
How can they spot you've got no talent
Razzle Dazzle 'em.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_(musical) [wikipedia.org]
NSA and the Desolation of Smaug (Score:2)
And over time the men of Dale had become complacent on privacy, liberty and freedom of association, and yet they prospered. No longer content with the wealth of accumulation, they valued innovation and the free exchange of information. To this end they did help to build the greatest communications network that had ever been. Through it all their wealth flowed like a river --- real wealth --- not the dusty treasure hordes of kings locked in windowless rooms.
The fortune and fate of Dale is bound with that
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One of the best posts on
Well Done!
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You sir win the Internet.
Might as well shut the whole thing down, we will never again see awesomeness on this scale again. Ever.
The Public Television? (Score:2)
years of drug use taking toll (Score:2)
"Conspiracy theorists" (Score:2)
10-15 years ago, people called me "conspiracy theorist".
Now they are apologizing.
Just because you can't believe someone would do something, doesn't mean it's not being done. Keep that in mind.
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Sounds like how psychics work - just keep spewing enough crap, and eventually something may actually be true.
Humle Kim (Score:1)
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