Kim Dotcom
Kim Dotcom is the founder of the file hosting service Megaupload.
Contents
Personal Life
Dotcom was born Kim Schmitz in Germany on January 21, 1974. Dotcom has also been known as Kimble and Kim Tim Jim Vestor.[1] Dotcom experienced great success as an internet entrepreneur during his teenage years, and has since lived an openly extravagant lifestyle, spending his wealth on luxury cars, yachts, women, houses and parties. Dotcom is physically a very large man, 6'6" tall and over 290lbs.[2] He legally changed his last name from Schmitz to Dotcom in 2005.[3] He is married, and he and his wife, Mona, have five children.
Criminal History (before Megaupload)
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. [4]
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.[5] Megaupload was very successful, growing to USD$175 million in revenues, 50 million daily visitors,[6] over 150 employees, and responsible for 4% of all internet traffic.[7]
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."[8] 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 US$175 million in cash. During the raid, USD$17 million in assets including TVs, art and luxury cars were seized.[9] Dotcom was remanded to Mt Eden Prison, where he claimed he was mistreated and subjected to sleep deprivation.[10] On February 22, Dotcom was released on bail.
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 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
