Difference between revisions of "Kim Dotcom"
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− | + | {{Person-Infobox|| | |
+ | |NAME=Kim Dotcom | ||
+ | |PORTRAIT=kim-dotcom.jpeg | ||
+ | |CAPTION=Kim Dotcom | ||
+ | |BIRTHNAME=Kim Schmitz | ||
+ | |BIRTHDATE=January 21, 1974 | ||
+ | |BIRTHPLACE=Kiel, Germany | ||
+ | |NATIONALITY=German | ||
+ | |OCCUPATION= Founder of Megaupload | ||
+ | |BIOGRAPHY= Hacker | ||
+ | }} | ||
− | |||
− | '''Kim Dotcom''' is the founder of the file hosting service [[Megaupload]]. | + | '''Kim Dotcom''', an internet entrepreneur, is the founder of the file hosting service [[Megaupload]], along with other 'Mega' services like MegaVideo and MegaPix. |
==Personal Life== | ==Personal Life== | ||
− | Dotcom | + | '''Dotcom''', born '''Kim Schmitz''', in Kiel, Germany on January 21, 1974, also known as '''Kimble''' and '''Kim Tim Jim Vestor''',<ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/20/us-internet-piracy-case-brings-new-zealand-arrests/?page=all#pagebreak US Internet piracy case brings New Zealand arrests</ref> experienced great success as an internet entrepreneur during his teenage years. Kim has since lived an openly extravagant lifestyle, spending his wealth on luxury cars, yachts, women, houses and parties. Dotcom, standing at 6'6" tall and over 290lbs, is a very large man.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/23/us-internet-piracy-megaupload-idUSTRE80K07Q20120123 Megaupload boss says innocent, rival stops file-sharing</ref> He legally changed his last name from Schmitz to Dotcom in 2005.<ref>http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/01/kim-dotcom/ The Fast, Fabulous, Allegedly Fraudulent Life of Megaupload’s Kim Dotcom</ref> He and his wife, Mona, have 2 sons and 3 daughters. <ref> http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6547471/Secrecy-over-Dotcoms-residency-application</ref> |
==Criminal History (before Megaupload)== | ==Criminal History (before Megaupload)== | ||
− | |||
Dotcom was a skilled and successful hacker starting as a teenager. Under the name "Kimble" he was able to bypass the security in NASA, the Pentagon, Citibank, and PBX Systems. In 1994, Dotcom was arrested in Germany for trafficking stolen calling card numbers. Following his arrest, Dotcom received a two-year suspended sentence for being under-age at the time the crimes were committed.<ref>http://www.sociallyengineered.com.au/chronic/2012/02/03/chronic-megalife-of-kim-dotcom/ Chronic: Megalife of Kim Dotcom</ref> | Dotcom was a skilled and successful hacker starting as a teenager. Under the name "Kimble" he was able to bypass the security in NASA, the Pentagon, Citibank, and PBX Systems. In 1994, Dotcom was arrested in Germany for trafficking stolen calling card numbers. Following his arrest, Dotcom received a two-year suspended sentence for being under-age at the time the crimes were committed.<ref>http://www.sociallyengineered.com.au/chronic/2012/02/03/chronic-megalife-of-kim-dotcom/ Chronic: Megalife of Kim Dotcom</ref> | ||
− | In 2001, | + | In 2001, Dotcom purchased €375,000 worth of shares of the nearly bankrupt company LetsBuyIt.com. Shortly after, he purchased €50 million in shares of LetsBuyIt.com. After a major rise in share value, Kim cashed out with €1.5 million. To avoid further investigation, Dotcom moved to Thailand, where he was arrested by German authorities.<ref>http://www.florianpoullin.fr/sites/florianpoullin.fr/files/investigate.pdf Merry Chrischmitz or Merry Hell? International criminal sets up home in Chrisco mansion</ref> In November 2003, he pleaded guilty to embezzlement, he received a suspended sentence of 20 months.<ref>http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2004-04-11/luring-german-investors-back-into-the-pool Luring German Investors Back Into The Pool</ref> Later in 2003, Dotcom left Germany and moved to Hong Kong.<ref>http://www.florianpoullin.fr/sites/florianpoullin.fr/files/investigate.pdf Merry Chrischmitz or Merry Hell? International criminal sets up home in Chrisco mansion</ref> |
==New Zealand Residency== | ==New Zealand Residency== | ||
− | Dotcom visited New Zealand a number of times in 2008 and 2009, during this time spending over $3.2 million on 12 cars and a leased helicopter. By November 2010, the New Zealand Immigration Department granted Dotcom residency despite his criminal record under the investor plus category, as he had invested over $10 million in New Zealand. <ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6547471/Secrecy-over-Dotcoms-residency-application Secrecy Over Dotcom's Residency Application</ref> | + | Dotcom visited New Zealand a number of times in 2008 and 2009, during this time spending over GST$3.2 million on 12 cars and a leased helicopter. By November 2010, the New Zealand Immigration Department granted Dotcom residency despite his criminal record under the investor plus category, as he had invested over GST$10 million in New Zealand. New Zealand's Immigration Department, after granting residency to Dotcom, sought to keep his paperwork as confidential in order to prevent criticism from other nations. <ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6547471/Secrecy-over-Dotcoms-residency-application Secrecy Over Dotcom's Residency Application</ref> |
==Megaupload and Arrest== | ==Megaupload and Arrest== | ||
− | |||
[[File: mega_logo.jpeg|thumb|300px|right|Megaupload Logo]] | [[File: mega_logo.jpeg|thumb|300px|right|Megaupload Logo]] | ||
− | |||
See main article [[Megaupload]] | See main article [[Megaupload]] | ||
Megaupload is a Hong Kong-based file hosing and sharing company started by Dotcom in February 2003. Originally, the company was known as Data Project Limited, but the name was changed to Megaupload in 2005.<ref>http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/01/kim-dotcom/ The Fast, Fabulous, Allegedly Fraudulent Life of Megaupload’s Kim Dotcom</ref> Megaupload was very successful, growing to USD$175 million in revenues, 50 million daily visitors,<ref>http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/01/google-cut-off-megauploads-ad-money-voluntarily-back-in-2007/ Google cut off Megaupload's ad money voluntarily back in 2007</ref> over 150 employees, and responsible for 4% of all internet traffic.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/mega01192012.pdf The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 4 December 2012.</ref> | Megaupload is a Hong Kong-based file hosing and sharing company started by Dotcom in February 2003. Originally, the company was known as Data Project Limited, but the name was changed to Megaupload in 2005.<ref>http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/01/kim-dotcom/ The Fast, Fabulous, Allegedly Fraudulent Life of Megaupload’s Kim Dotcom</ref> Megaupload was very successful, growing to USD$175 million in revenues, 50 million daily visitors,<ref>http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/01/google-cut-off-megauploads-ad-money-voluntarily-back-in-2007/ Google cut off Megaupload's ad money voluntarily back in 2007</ref> over 150 employees, and responsible for 4% of all internet traffic.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/mega01192012.pdf The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 4 December 2012.</ref> | ||
− | Indictments were filed against Dotcom and other Megaupload executives in Virginia, USA, on January 5, 2012 for crimes related to "engaging in a racketeering conspiracy, conspiring to commit copyright infringement, conspiring to commit money laundering and two substantive counts of criminal copyright infringement."<ref>http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/January/12-crm-074.html Justice Department Charges Leaders of Megaupload with Widespread Online Copyright Infringement</ref> Two weeks later, on January 20, Kim Dotcom, along with Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk were arrested in Coatesville, Auckland, New Zealand, by New Zealand Police. Dotcom's 64 bank accounts from across the world were frozen, denying him access to | + | Indictments were filed against Dotcom and other Megaupload executives in Virginia, USA, on January 5, 2012 for crimes related to "engaging in a racketeering conspiracy, conspiring to commit copyright infringement, conspiring to commit money laundering and two substantive counts of criminal copyright infringement."<ref>http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/January/12-crm-074.html Justice Department Charges Leaders of Megaupload with Widespread Online Copyright Infringement</ref> Two weeks later, on January 20, Kim Dotcom, along with Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk were arrested in Coatesville, Auckland, New Zealand, by New Zealand Police. Dotcom's 64 bank accounts from across the world were frozen, denying him access to USD$175 million in cash. During the raid, USD$17 million in assets including TVs, art and luxury cars were seized.<ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6293542/Megaupload-attempting-to-get-back-online Megaupload attempting to get back online</ref> Dotcom was remanded to Mt Eden Prison, where he claimed he was mistreated and subjected to sleep deprivation.<ref>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10788982 Dotcom: I will beat charges</ref> On February 22, Dotcom was released on bail. |
− | |||
− | + | ==Suing GCSB== | |
− | + | In early December of 2012, Kim Dotcom recieved the right from New Zealand's High Court, Judge Helen Winkelmann, to sue The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) due to the unlawful and illegal surveillance and involvement in the raid on Megaupload earlier this year. Before the raid on Megaupload, the New Zealand government spy agency had been illegally surveying the Megaupload compound. It was illegal for the government to spy on Dotcom because even though he is a German national, he had residency at the point in New Zealand. This made his mansion off-limits for the government to spy on. Because of these facts, many restrictions on Dotcom have been lifted. These include the unfreezing of some of his assets to accommodate for living and legal costs, less restrictions on travel and association, and extensive evidence disclosure which U.S. authorities are trying to appeal. <ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/us-megaupload-spying-evidence-idUSBRE8B505620121206</ref> | |
+ | <ref>http://phys.org/news/2012-12-megaupload-boss-sue-zealand-spy.html</ref> | ||
+ | ==Defense== | ||
+ | In regards to his indictment for Megaupload, Dotcom said, "For every email they have in the indictment, I have 100 others that disprove it." He said that Megaupload had a team of 20 members whose job it was to take down videos said to contain copyright-infringing material. <ref>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10788982</ref> In addition, the site's policy stated that users were not permitted to upload videos containing copyrighted materials and if they did, it would be removed, leading to over 15 million links being deleted from the site. The US Electronic Communication Privacy Act prevents systems administrators from looking at users' account information, preventing further action to be taken to fight copyright violators. <ref>http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/12/02/the-life-and-times-of-kim-dotcom/ </ref> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dotcom said that he was shocked by his indictment because he believed he was protected under the DMCA law in the United States, saying, "As long as we follow a regime of taking things down that are reported to us, which we have done over all these years, we are protected, according to the law and, you know, I find it very surprising that this is happening because like I said we had legal advice all these years telling us that we are an online service provider and we are not liable for the actions of third parties." <ref>http://www.3news.co.nz/Kim-Dotcoms-first-TV-interview-Im-no-piracy-king/tabid/817/articleID/244830/Default.aspx</ref> | ||
+ | |||
+ | He believed that the government and press's accusations against him were unfair and biased against him because of past events. "The media went as far as finding my father, drunk and living in some garden shed, who I haven’t seen since I was 8 years old. He is an alcoholic who used to beat my mother and myself into hospital many times. And the press got him to complain in interviews that he only sees me on TV with my big Mercedes and that I never visit him." <ref>http://torrentfreak.com/from-rogue-to-vogue-megaupload-and-kim-dotcom-111218/</ref> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==See Also== | ||
+ | *[[Megaupload]] | ||
+ | *[[File Sharing]] | ||
*[[Digital Piracy]] | *[[Digital Piracy]] | ||
Line 41: | Line 57: | ||
[[Category: Information Ethics]] | [[Category: Information Ethics]] | ||
[[Category: Piracy]] | [[Category: Piracy]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Male]] | ||
([[Topics|back to index]]) | ([[Topics|back to index]]) |
Latest revision as of 23:29, 28 April 2019
Birthname | Kim Schmitz |
Date of Birth | January 21, 1974 |
Birth Place | Kiel, Germany |
Nationality | German |
Occupation | Founder of Megaupload |
Biography | Hacker |
Kim Dotcom, an internet entrepreneur, is the founder of the file hosting service Megaupload, along with other 'Mega' services like MegaVideo and MegaPix.
Contents
Personal Life
Dotcom, born Kim Schmitz, in Kiel, Germany on January 21, 1974, also known as Kimble and Kim Tim Jim Vestor,[1] experienced great success as an internet entrepreneur during his teenage years. Kim has since lived an openly extravagant lifestyle, spending his wealth on luxury cars, yachts, women, houses and parties. Dotcom, standing at 6'6" tall and over 290lbs, is a very large man.[2] He legally changed his last name from Schmitz to Dotcom in 2005.[3] He and his wife, Mona, have 2 sons and 3 daughters. [4]
Criminal History (before Megaupload)
Dotcom was a skilled and successful hacker starting as a teenager. Under the name "Kimble" he was able to bypass the security in NASA, the Pentagon, Citibank, and PBX Systems. In 1994, Dotcom was arrested in Germany for trafficking stolen calling card numbers. Following his arrest, Dotcom received a two-year suspended sentence for being under-age at the time the crimes were committed.[5]
In 2001, Dotcom purchased €375,000 worth of shares of the nearly bankrupt company LetsBuyIt.com. Shortly after, he purchased €50 million in shares of LetsBuyIt.com. After a major rise in share value, Kim cashed out with €1.5 million. To avoid further investigation, Dotcom moved to Thailand, where he was arrested by German authorities.[6] In November 2003, he pleaded guilty to embezzlement, he received a suspended sentence of 20 months.[7] Later in 2003, Dotcom left Germany and moved to Hong Kong.[8]
New Zealand Residency
Dotcom visited New Zealand a number of times in 2008 and 2009, during this time spending over GST$3.2 million on 12 cars and a leased helicopter. By November 2010, the New Zealand Immigration Department granted Dotcom residency despite his criminal record under the investor plus category, as he had invested over GST$10 million in New Zealand. New Zealand's Immigration Department, after granting residency to Dotcom, sought to keep his paperwork as confidential in order to prevent criticism from other nations. [9]
Megaupload and Arrest
See main article Megaupload
Megaupload is a Hong Kong-based file hosing and sharing company started by Dotcom in February 2003. Originally, the company was known as Data Project Limited, but the name was changed to Megaupload in 2005.[10] Megaupload was very successful, growing to USD$175 million in revenues, 50 million daily visitors,[11] over 150 employees, and responsible for 4% of all internet traffic.[12]
Indictments were filed against Dotcom and other Megaupload executives in Virginia, USA, on January 5, 2012 for crimes related to "engaging in a racketeering conspiracy, conspiring to commit copyright infringement, conspiring to commit money laundering and two substantive counts of criminal copyright infringement."[13] Two weeks later, on January 20, Kim Dotcom, along with Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk were arrested in Coatesville, Auckland, New Zealand, by New Zealand Police. Dotcom's 64 bank accounts from across the world were frozen, denying him access to USD$175 million in cash. During the raid, USD$17 million in assets including TVs, art and luxury cars were seized.[14] Dotcom was remanded to Mt Eden Prison, where he claimed he was mistreated and subjected to sleep deprivation.[15] On February 22, Dotcom was released on bail.
Suing GCSB
In early December of 2012, Kim Dotcom recieved the right from New Zealand's High Court, Judge Helen Winkelmann, to sue The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) due to the unlawful and illegal surveillance and involvement in the raid on Megaupload earlier this year. Before the raid on Megaupload, the New Zealand government spy agency had been illegally surveying the Megaupload compound. It was illegal for the government to spy on Dotcom because even though he is a German national, he had residency at the point in New Zealand. This made his mansion off-limits for the government to spy on. Because of these facts, many restrictions on Dotcom have been lifted. These include the unfreezing of some of his assets to accommodate for living and legal costs, less restrictions on travel and association, and extensive evidence disclosure which U.S. authorities are trying to appeal. [16] [17]
Defense
In regards to his indictment for Megaupload, Dotcom said, "For every email they have in the indictment, I have 100 others that disprove it." He said that Megaupload had a team of 20 members whose job it was to take down videos said to contain copyright-infringing material. [18] In addition, the site's policy stated that users were not permitted to upload videos containing copyrighted materials and if they did, it would be removed, leading to over 15 million links being deleted from the site. The US Electronic Communication Privacy Act prevents systems administrators from looking at users' account information, preventing further action to be taken to fight copyright violators. [19]
Dotcom said that he was shocked by his indictment because he believed he was protected under the DMCA law in the United States, saying, "As long as we follow a regime of taking things down that are reported to us, which we have done over all these years, we are protected, according to the law and, you know, I find it very surprising that this is happening because like I said we had legal advice all these years telling us that we are an online service provider and we are not liable for the actions of third parties." [20]
He believed that the government and press's accusations against him were unfair and biased against him because of past events. "The media went as far as finding my father, drunk and living in some garden shed, who I haven’t seen since I was 8 years old. He is an alcoholic who used to beat my mother and myself into hospital many times. And the press got him to complain in interviews that he only sees me on TV with my big Mercedes and that I never visit him." [21]
See Also
References
- ↑ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/20/us-internet-piracy-case-brings-new-zealand-arrests/?page=all#pagebreak US Internet piracy case brings New Zealand arrests
- ↑ http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/23/us-internet-piracy-megaupload-idUSTRE80K07Q20120123 Megaupload boss says innocent, rival stops file-sharing
- ↑ http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/01/kim-dotcom/ The Fast, Fabulous, Allegedly Fraudulent Life of Megaupload’s Kim Dotcom
- ↑ http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6547471/Secrecy-over-Dotcoms-residency-application
- ↑ http://www.sociallyengineered.com.au/chronic/2012/02/03/chronic-megalife-of-kim-dotcom/ Chronic: Megalife of Kim Dotcom
- ↑ http://www.florianpoullin.fr/sites/florianpoullin.fr/files/investigate.pdf Merry Chrischmitz or Merry Hell? International criminal sets up home in Chrisco mansion
- ↑ http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2004-04-11/luring-german-investors-back-into-the-pool Luring German Investors Back Into The Pool
- ↑ http://www.florianpoullin.fr/sites/florianpoullin.fr/files/investigate.pdf Merry Chrischmitz or Merry Hell? International criminal sets up home in Chrisco mansion
- ↑ http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6547471/Secrecy-over-Dotcoms-residency-application Secrecy Over Dotcom's Residency Application
- ↑ http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/01/kim-dotcom/ The Fast, Fabulous, Allegedly Fraudulent Life of Megaupload’s Kim Dotcom
- ↑ http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/01/google-cut-off-megauploads-ad-money-voluntarily-back-in-2007/ Google cut off Megaupload's ad money voluntarily back in 2007
- ↑ http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/mega01192012.pdf The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ↑ http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/January/12-crm-074.html Justice Department Charges Leaders of Megaupload with Widespread Online Copyright Infringement
- ↑ http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6293542/Megaupload-attempting-to-get-back-online Megaupload attempting to get back online
- ↑ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10788982 Dotcom: I will beat charges
- ↑ http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/us-megaupload-spying-evidence-idUSBRE8B505620121206
- ↑ http://phys.org/news/2012-12-megaupload-boss-sue-zealand-spy.html
- ↑ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10788982
- ↑ http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/12/02/the-life-and-times-of-kim-dotcom/
- ↑ http://www.3news.co.nz/Kim-Dotcoms-first-TV-interview-Im-no-piracy-king/tabid/817/articleID/244830/Default.aspx
- ↑ http://torrentfreak.com/from-rogue-to-vogue-megaupload-and-kim-dotcom-111218/