Yet Another (Yes Another) Error In Megaupload Case: Search Warrants Ruled Illegal

from the keystone-kops dept

Thu, Jun 28th 2012 3:01am — Mike Masnick

Early on, we pointed out that the legal theories behind the shutting down of Megaupload and the arrest of its founders were highly questionable. And since then, we've seen that it wasn't just the legal theories that were problematic, but nearly everything about the case, including a bunch of procedural issues. There's been lost evidence and plans to destroy evidence. There have been procedural errors that knocked out a restraining order for being improperly filed, as well as the failure to properly serve the company, which may lead the case against the company (but not the individuals) to be dropped entirely. On top of that, the US has been acting as this is all pretty straightforward, but have already been surprised to discover that the New Zealand government won't simply rubberstamp the extradition.

The latest update may create an even bigger headache for the US in its crusade against Kim Dotcom and Megaupload. High Court judge Helen Winkelmann has ruled that the search warrants used to seize Kim Dotcom's property... were illegal. Yeah, that's going to present a problem for the US. She also ruled that the FBI broke the law in taking data from Dotcom's computers out of the country. But the illegal warrants are the big deal here:

She said the search warrants were invalid because they were general warrants which lacked specificity about the offence and the scope of the items to be searched for.

Without a valid warrant, police were trespassing and exceeded what they were lawfully authorised to do.

Justice Winkelmann said no one had addressed whether police conduct also amounted to unreasonable search and seizure, but her preliminary view was that it did.

In other words, it's not only entirely possible that the government won't even be able to use anything from what they seized in a case, but they may, themselves, be in trouble for breaking the law and violating Dotcom's privacy rights.

The specific problem? The warrant did not actually state what US laws were supposedly broken -- which is kind of important, especially since this was about a case in the US and a person in New Zealand. If it's not made clear that the warrant is under US laws, then it "would no doubt cause confusion to the subjects of the searches...they would likely read the warrants as authorising a search for evidence of offences as defined by New Zealand law."

So not only do we have a weak case, the whole process in the case has been a complete joke and may mean that the US is unable to use much of the evidence it collected, can't extradite Dotcom and... has little actual basis to move forward with a lawsuit. Honestly, I'm somewhat amazed at the number of mistakes by the feds in such a case. It increasingly feels like they did this because they felt the need to "do something" right after the effort to pass SOPA and PIPA stalled out -- and in their rush to make Hollywood like them again, the feds didn't bother to actually pay much attention to the details. Sometimes it's "creative" to color outside the lines. At other times, it's called cooking up a case on trumped up charges for political reasons.

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Filed Under: errors, fbi, helen winkelmann, illegal search & seizure, kim dotcom, new zealand, procedures
Companies: megaupload

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PopeyeLePoteaux, 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:08am

OMG!... blah blah blah... LOLZ!... yadda yadda yadda... PIRATES! intelegible gibberish... sociopath Masnick.

It seems is not difficult to be and write like a shill.
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[citation needed or GTFO], 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:12am

Re:
8/10. You forgot to add references to paywalls, freetards, and how copyright is theft.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:13am

it wasn't a case of 'doing something to make Hollywood like them again', it was a case of 'Hollywood said this is what needs to happen because we dont like Megaupload or what it's doing, legal or not!'
i'm still waiting to see the reasons the Feds use for not giving the HDDs back to Dotcom. considering they managed to clone the drives pretty damn quick to get them to the US but reckon it will 'take too long' to do so Dotcom can have them back or a copy of them, what road to travel next? this has been nothing less than a total conspiracy to shut Megaupload site down, legal or not. that part was achieved. keeping it shut is going to be another thing. i doubt if Dotcom will stop now until he has those responsible, regardless of whether in the government, law enforcement or the entertainment industries, well and truly by the bollocks!!
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PopeyeLePoteaux, 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:14am

Re: Re:
True, shame on me...
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[citation needed or GTFO], 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:26am

Despite all of this...
Even if Megaupload wins, the MAFIAA did what they came to do: halt Dotcom's business and effectively destroy the company...

...if it weren't for the fact that he's already got Megabox in the works.

That said, the usual "color commentators" will still deem Dotcom guilty based on his supermodel-type body and the face of file-sharing.

Don't know why they should complain, though. They already got O'Dwyer and Anton Vickerman convicted as scapegoats for extradition...
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[citation needed or GTFO], 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:27am

Re: Re: Re:
No worries. I might have goofed on "copyright" when I should've said "copyright infringement."

Although knowing the usual crowd, it probably doesn't matter either way. Anything to deal with copying will equal theft.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:33am

The only evidence anyone needs that Mike Masnick is the slimiest coward in history, is that despite devoting his blog to defending piracy, he STILL is so ashamed of it that he refused to just come right out and admit it.

These types of people, those that lie for a living, usually give themselves cancer by age 50-55; This type of behavior is just not what the physical representation of ourselves was designed for.
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Digitari, 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:41am

Re:
is this some insider news flash about the MPAA and RIAA Members?

or is the wishful "wrath of God" Ranting?
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Prisoner 201, 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:42am

Any bets on whether or not all MU's data will be "lost due to a clerical error" or other "regrettable accident"?

Just to show those dirty pirates that what the MAFIAA wants, it gets, nevermind laws and stuff.
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Violated (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:45am

Mega SOPA
Much is correctly said there but it is a hard case to link this Mega raid to SOPA/PIPA. While it may be true that SOPA made them more pro-active in them wanting to do a SOPA-like raid but even this shoddy planning must have taken them a month or two to map out.

That also means the start of this international corporation destruction plan began around the same time as the Mega Song fiasco. Mega giving UMG the middle finger in the UMG musicians sense sure did not help but there was also the MegaBox announcement and artists getting a 90% cut would appeal none to the RIAA.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:45am

Competency appears to be lacking in the DoJ.
Perhaps America would be served better by an examination of that department's procedures and people.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:47am

The US doesn't care about any NZ laws or NZ judge. None of this has any meaning to any US case. And if NZ decides not to extradite, the US will simply arrest Dotcom (or cause him to be arrested) next time he leaves NZ.
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PaulT (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:49am

Re: Re:
The more indefensible the **AAs' actions become, the more surrealist and plain weird the attacks become, especially those that become personal. It's hard to tell if this is a parody or real any more.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:51am

There really isn't much that can be said now that isn't along the lines of
HA HA
hahahahahahahahaha

But eventually you get to the question.

Once they finally give up on their case, what are the chances of Megaupload suing?
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tebee (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:56am

So when are we going to start calling this the Mega Fuck-Ups case?
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The eejit (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:01am

Re:
It's not defending piracy, when government breaks the law.
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The eejit (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:02am

Re:
Well, it depends on whether the TSA and ICE will be involved...
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The eejit (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:03am

Re:
No, Mega-Conspiracy is still apt. Just not in the way envisaged by the DoJ.
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Chargone (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:05am

Re: Re: Re:
it crossed that line a Long time ago...
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Metoo, 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:06am

Re:
Fine, we'll keep him. He's fun.
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Chargone (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:08am

Re:
fortunately, the Internet means he doesn't really need to to do business.

still true and made of fail though.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:09am

Where's your "the law is my excuse" now, googlyhead?
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Spaceboy (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:11am

Re:
I'm pretty sure that standing up for something you believe in while others are pressuring you to 'conform' to their standard and not hiding your identity is pretty much the opposite of coward.

Calling Mike Masnick a coward while hiding behind an Anonymous Coward tag shows who the real coward is. Enjoy your self righteous indignation while it lasts.
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Chargone (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:13am

Re:
well, the USG has some weird law about them having to give you permission to sue them... and NZ's government is having budget issues to the point where suing Them as an entity would damage a lot of good will here...

though he might be able to wrangle suing the individuals responsible for gross failure at doing their jobs properly or something (i don't know the actual law for this)...

he could certainly do a Lot to prevent the current lot of idiots getting back in in the next election (there was some interestingness with donations for an election campaign recently, where the official in question tried to claim he was unaware of what was happening etc, and Dotcom, rather than being a good old boy and helping cover for the guy, simply trotted out the actual proper records of the transactions involved. (He, after all, hadn't actually done anything wrong.))
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Chargone (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:14am

Re: Re:
somewhere in the course of writing that, my brain swapped 'megaupload' and 'Kim Dotcom', hence talking about Dotcom's situation rather than Megaupload's.
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Ninja (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:17am

Re:
Wow, you were fast. Caffeine or something?

Stop and ignore that's Kim Dotcom and it's related to copyright. Clear your mind. Now check if those were procedural errors. Can you see anything once you take copyright out of the mix?

Anyway, my attempt is futile, you are resorting to personal attacks, which shows us you can't argue against the facts exposed =)
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Ninja (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:23am

Re:
Most Megaupload assets will be given back in a state that Dotcom will probably have to buy everything new. I am sincerely hoping Kim cam bring MU back online and working fully but I'm afraid part of the objective was reached successfully: the destruction of MU and loss of consumer trust (ie: how many ppl will resume using the service to store their important files?).

Of course this might be one hell of a lesson and Dotcom might bring MU back with mirrors like TPB ;)
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Keii (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:26am

Re: Re:
Megagate
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Karim, 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:28am

Re: Frustrated much?
Because you had absolutely no point whatsoever. You just spewed out some very childish name-calling. I know what it feels like to have my *side* fail due to a lack of competence. Failure is part of life, and serves us in many positive ways. Live with it, learn from it, move on.

Mike Masnick: Yet Another Error In Megaupload Case! Here are the details!

You: Shut up! That's why!

The level of frustration your post exuded has given me a bit of a boost. Thanks and keep up the good work!
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:37am

Many illegal acts have already been committed in the name of Copyright enforcement. Makes you wonder who the real pirates are.
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That One Guy (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:44am

Re: Re:
Oh gods, I just got the mental image of all three of those departments going after each other... that would be hilarity, and well deserved karma on a truly epic scale.
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The eejit (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:47am

Re:
Well, considering that the law failed to follow its namesake...

You literally could not make this shit up. It'd be decried as too unrealistic.
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G Thompson (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:48am

Re: Re:
Sovereign immunity is ONLY for citizens of the 'sovereign' therefore as I have stated before any non-citizen of the USA is entirely able to bring suit against the USA whether the USG claims immunity or not.

Governments pay compensation damages to non-citizens all the time, you just doin't hear about it much due to confidentiality clauses in settlements since people don't like dragging it all through the 'public' court system. But MegaUpload would be perfect to drag it through because of not only the publicity but also the sweet sweet revenge it would give them.

This case is ripe for a quantum of damages claim based on loss of business by MegaUpload from not just the potential earnings but also the IPO that was about to be done.

And as I stated before the USG has assets in New Zealand that could be liquidated by the courts for any damage claim. Not politically good and a total loss of face for the USG but not many people on the planet would not be laughing about it for decades to come, and it wouldn't set a precedent either.
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G Thompson (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:50am

Re:
These types of people, those that lie for a living, usually give themselves cancer by age 50-55; This type of behavior is just not what the physical representation of ourselves was designed for.[emphasis added]

And just what have you got against Politicians?
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G Thompson (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:57am

I'll drag this comment from "UK Politician Speaks Out Against The Travesty Of Trying To Deport Richard O'Dwyer To Feed Hollywood's Anger" thread since it was about all this anyway ===>

New Zealand�s National Business Review has a more comprehensive take on this breaking story showing:
The main points from Justice Winkelmann's judgment:
* The search warrants used under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act were unlawful.
* The FBI's removal of "clones", or copies, of computer data offshore was unlawful.
* Any clones remaining in New Zealand must stay here.
* The attorney-general must provide Mr Dotcom with any clones currently held by New Zealand police.
[...]

Justice Winkelmann also ordered the data that was seized from Mr Dotcom be analysed to determine what is and is not relevant to the charges he faces.

She has ordered that:
* An independent and "appropriately experienced" High Court lawyer conduct the review.
* Copies of electronic data containing only relevant material be provided to US authorities.
* All items deemed not relevant be returned to Mr Dotcom.
* Any copies of relevant data which are provided to the US authorities must also be provided to Mr Dotcom.
* The auditor-general request from the US authorities the "voluntary" return of the clones removed from New Zealand.
It also seems that Rick Shera an IP specialist solicitor expects an appeal to the NZ Court of Appeal (wasn't aware that this could be appealed especially since Judge Helen Winkelmann is the Chief High Court Judge though seeing as it's only a one party judgement makes sense.. though still strange) before July 4th.

Even then I myself cannot see much difference especially since the warrants are now confirmed to be general warrants. Using general warrants in first place by police was just blind stupidity, or kowtowing to US DoJ thuggery (or both). Didn't they think anyone would notice? It's one of the first things ever checked by defence solicitors or any solicitor for that matter.

Also it looks like based on my reading of the full ruling [found via http://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/cases/dotcom-ors-v-attorney-general/at_download/fileDecision ] the transfer of the data outside of NZ to the USA was not just illegal it was specifically illegal which could (and I have high hopes here based on NZ judiciary volatile history with the US) create criminal charges against those involved in removing the data from NZ soil (ie: the US DoJ agents themselves). Oh joyousness!

now.. lets see all the trolls and shills say something bad about this, or how it is "just a learning experience". Bwahahahahahahahaha
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That One Guy (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 4:59am

Re: Re:
He hates competition?
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:03am

Re:
That won't happen. It would mean Dotcom would have to testify in a US court.If NZ tosses evidence related to extradition, that doesn't impede the case against Dotcom, just his trip to the US. Unless extradited, he is a box called New Zealand for the rest of his life.
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G Thompson (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:05am

Re:
Real pirates? the "Crimson Permanent Assurance" of course.. Dirty pirates against American consumerism....

arrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
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Michael, 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:07am

Lawsuit time?
So can an individual or group of individuals now sue the US government for the loss of our data? I have a lot of time on my hands.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:10am

So, does that mean that the US Government is now the real pirates in this case?

After all they 'broke into' Dot Com's home and property and 'looted' it of all the 'evidence' in the form of all the valuables they could find like computer parts and expensive cars/etc.
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Paul, 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:10am

the RIAA probably knew this would happen...
...but pushed the government anyway. The RIAA/MPAA still got MegaUpload shutdown and who knows how long, if ever, it'll take to get it back up once DotCom is free. Hollywood won and they burned the government while doing so. The government won't blame them, they'll probably find a lowly scapegoat somewhere.
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abc gum, 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:12am

Due process, how does it work?

A big cartel talking point is that due process is too hard and therefore should be eliminated. They want to be anointed Judge Dredd. Hollywood vigilantism.
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E. Zachary Knight (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:16am

Re:
Well now. I immediately see the following fallacy in your comment:

http://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/ad-hominem
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:19am

Re:
Lowery does not have cancer. Your point is therefore incorrect.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:22am

Re: Re:
I dunno, if MU ever comes back, it will probably be put on a pedestal as a "safe haven".

Law Enforcement ain't gonna touch it again unless they can *really* prove willful infringement. That's just asking for a serious ass-whooping at this point.
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Berenerd (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:27am

I know what happened...
Its an honest mistake really...I feel for the FBI, I have done that myself...

They were having so much luck investigating and breaking up their own plots, they got over confident when they went after Dotcom thinking the same rules applied in the real world as it did in their imaginary one.

See, this is what happens when the FBI gets caught up with the movies that they get portraid in.
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Machin Shin (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:28am

Re: Re: Re:
I don't know about hilarity. As much as all those groups love screwing people, both figuratively and in a lot of cases quite literally, it sounds more likely to be a bad porno than a comedy.
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Berenerd (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:33am

Re:
*Nelson laugh*

HaaaaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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S, 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:38am

Re: Re: Re:
I think you've put your finger on a very important aspect of this case -- and something I don't recall Mike or anyone else mentioning (at least, mentioning pointedly): the IPO.

I would be utterly shocked if this wasn't a ham-handed attempt by the MAFIAA to avert what would (in their eyes) amount to a power legitimization of the "evil pirates": the successful IPO of a company that (in their eyes) is "devoted to infringement".

It would also give said company an immensely expanded power base, and bring any share holders (imagine if Google held a bunch of MU stock) incentive to protect MU, which could turn nasty for the representatives of an "industry" which Google & friends could buy outright.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:42am

Re:
The only evidence anyone needs that Mike Masnick is the slimiest coward in history, is that despite devoting his blog to defending piracy, he STILL is so ashamed of it that he refused to just come right out and admit it.

These types of people, those that lie for a living, usually give themselves cancer by age 50-55; This type of behavior is just not what the physical representation of ourselves was designed for.

Masnick truly is the biggest pirate apologists on the 'net. The shame that this obvious brings him is definitely cutting his life short. That, plus the obesity.
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Mega1987 (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:43am

*insert craze laugh*
Give those guys a truckful of Pails...
With the word EPIC written in them.

hahahahahahaha....

what's a matter? did Murphy visited you folks?

*insert more laughs*
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:46am

Re:
The US doesn't care about any NZ laws or NZ judge. None of this has any meaning to any US case. And if NZ decides not to extradite, the US will simply arrest Dotcom (or cause him to be arrested) next time he leaves NZ.

Right. Nor is it likely that any of the evidence collected at his mansion during the raid is needed to make the case against Dotcom. This is just more wishful thinking from the world's largest pirate apologist, Mikey Masnick. It's HILARIOUS how dishonest Mike is about the whole thing. I couldn't live a life that's a complete lie like he does, never admitting to the world what the world already knows.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:47am

Re:
Cutting legal analysis there, abc gum. You grasp the law as well as Masnick.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:52am

Re: Re:
I wonder how long it'll take us to run through the entire badge system on yourlogicalfallacyis.com? A week? Two weeks?
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:52am

Re: Re:
Hey, if you want to blame anyone for legal analysis, blame bob. He's the one who complained that the DMCA gave rightsholders too many hoops to jump through despite rightsholders demanding the DMCA to begin with.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:04am

Re:
How you been following Kim's new Twitter account. From the sound of things, once the trial is dropped, he'll be out for blood.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:04am

Re: Re:
you are a troll, but still...you could read the judgement. The judgement makes clear - for the first time - that there was NOT enough evidence and that the raids were needed precisely to gather more evidence. Which explains everything else. If you want to just stick to your little bubble of opinion rather than the FACTS that Judge Winkelmann refers to - for everyone to read, the document is online - feel free to do so. It just exposes you as who you are - prejudiced and biased.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:06am

Re: Re:
there are much much worse boxes to live in...he'd have New Zealand, and the internet...what more does he need?
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Dark Helmet (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:09am

Re: Re:
Yes, yes, because Mike's writing of articles is going to give him cancer, we know, we know.

Yeesh, you're a wierd one, aren't you?
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:11am

Re: Re:
When the shills come out this strong, you know Mike hit a nerve...
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PaulT (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:14am

Re: Re:
If you truly have nothing, why do you keep typing? Is this what counts as an adult argument in your universe? Do you expect Techdirt to shut down or stop reporting the fuck ups you people are making just because you call someone names?
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MonkeyFracasJr (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:17am

Re: "Copyright is Theft"
Well actually, the way copyright is used, it is theft, of cultural assets from the people.
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G Thompson (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:17am

Re: Re:
Kim (or MegaUpload) taking suit against the US govt in no way means he physically has to testify in front of a US court.

In fact a US court doesn't even have to be involved, since He could sue in any jurisdiction that he has standing too, and that jurisdiction could be New Zealand or Germany or any country where MegaUpload had a presence.

Suing the US Government can be done ANYWHERE! Only US citizens have a problem with Sovereign immunity, happily everyone else in the world doesn't. And then it is up to the USG as respondents to either represent themselves via local counsel or stupidly not attend and have default judgement given.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:17am

Re:
I'm beginning to get the impression that they needed teh broad warrants since they didn't yet have a case when the raid was conducted - Justice Winkelmann cites an email exchange which makes that point clear. Which would be truly staggering. They took everything because they didn't know what they were looking for - this was not supporting evidence for a case already made, but was needed to build the case. Given the fervency with which the FBI is trying to prevent the defence from getting access to the evidence, the question could be raised whether they did really find the evidence they were looking for in the raid? If not (and even if, but in a different way), this is truly a staggering breach of the rule of law and the rights of the individuals involved...
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:18am

Re: Re:
There is no spoon(evidence) when you realize the truth you will be able to bend it.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:19am

Eric Holder and Ron Kirk should be arrested, tried, found guilty and imprisoned for the action of their departments and their complicity to the content industry.

The offices and homes of the officers of the MPAA and the RIAA should be searched and assets seized. The officers should be charged with conspiracy to corrupt and bribe government officials.

Once convicted, the MPAA and RIAA should be dismantled. Anyone connected with these corrupt organizations should be banned from any lobbying efforts. While we are at it, let�s dismantle the TSA and homeland security!

These are the words of our lord, amen.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:23am

You must have sympathy the Ameirca Inc. (you know why).
But, but - September 11!! Ameirca Inc. tells us incessantly that it was the worst tragedy in human history, so it must be true!!

The world must never forget that date and the worst tragedy of all human history (Ameirca Inc. says) and all countries (most of which are much older and therefore dumber than America Inc. tells us it is) must therefore ignore their own sovereignties in order to bend over backwards for anything Ameirca Inc. stormtroopers, copyright cartel, liars and scam artists demand, no matter what trivial things like those counties' own laws may say.

Ameirca Inc. must be right and just no matter what they do, because, well jeez, September 11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clearly, Ameirca Inc. laws was being violated because, well - September 11!!

America Inc. �ber Alles!!

Fucktards.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:24am

Re: Re: "Copyright is Theft"
Copyright is not theft, it's monopoly

Copying is not theft, it's copying
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G Thompson (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:24am

Re: Re:
Actually he has grasped the absolute gist of what the US DoJ is trying to prove. That due process is not required in this matter, and that New Zealands "procedural fairness" regime is not anything to do with them.

Like in all other cases where "national security" in the guise of corporate butthurt applies they are trying to in all ways be Judge Dredd. Except I think Stallone actually had a more convincing script.

Why don't you go read the Ruling [ http://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/cases/dotcom-ors-v-attorney-general/at_download/fileDecision ] by the Chief High Court Judge and read all the correspondence that is supplied as embedded exhibits by the FBI, DoJ, NZ authorities and then understand exactly what the USG is trying to pull here.

I'll wait...
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G Thompson (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:28am

Re:
Sadly that will never happen, though they might be given a bench warrant by the New Zealand courts who will then place them on an Interpol watchlist which means they are subject to arrest anytime they step outside of the Continental USA.

Though I'd be amazed totally if that happened in this case, but one can dream.

Last night I dreamt I ate a huge marshmallow and when I woke up in the morning my pillow had mysteriously vanished. ;)
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Hothmonster, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:29am

Re: Re: Re:
Ohh like the alphabet game in the car? We all compete to see who can find each one first.

How about procedurally generated fallacy bingo cards? Everyone with a profile gets one at the beginning of the week and they get a prize if they get bingo.
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G Thompson (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:33am

Re: Re: Re: "Copyright is Theft"
Actually copyright as a concept is a form of theft since you are removing a fundamental right to copy away from people for a limited amount of time.

Copyright is not copying. Copyright is a legal concept, copying is an actual actus (physical act)
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:35am

Re:
In what universe is being critical of goverment mishadling of a case about piracy defending piracy?

This is not a road you want to go down.

If pointing out goverment mistakes and wrongdoing in a case is considered defending an illegal activity then the goverment could and would abuse it's power because any disagreement with it's activities could be met with "How dare you question us you murder/arson/jaywalking lover!"
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abc gum, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:37am

Re: Re:
"You grasp the law as well as Masnick"

And then a rare compliment emanates from beneath the bridge.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:39am

Re:
It's been quite fun to watch the decline of the shills...

First, they were attempting to prove a point. Hey, we're right, and here's why!

Second, they were disproved over and over and were losing SO badly, that they backed away to just very broad statements using cooked up lies they called facts.

Third, after they were disproved and lost even more, they backed away to just trying to discredit Mike. Forget the fact that he's actually only linking to others' reporting and adding his commentary, it is all his fault.

And now, fourth, we're to the point where things are really unraveling, and it's come down to flat-out personal attacks. Also, I like how along the way, the frequency of posts have dropped off the map, as the amount of shills have obviously been dropped significantly, as they've been fired (ESPECIALLY since SOPA/PIPA failed).

It's really been a fun ride. I'm pretty sure the next step is them posting garbled messes of text over and over on every article as a way to try to clog up the comment stream here. I'm not sure what else they could do.
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SkullCowboy (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:39am

Not a lawyer so asking a question. Since the search warrants were deemed illegal shouldn't all the seized items be returned immediately? If they were unlawfully seized doesn't that make them all inadmissible as evidence?
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G Thompson (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:39am

Re: Re:
Exactly, which is why she equates the entering of the property and taking of the goods as a type of illegal trespass.

Does NOT look good for the newly formed anti-terrorism police force squad that partook and was the lead in this 'raid'.

This will most likely go to appeal, and also is the reason why the Judge wants all parties to come to an arrangement on 4th July before she has to. She really doesn't want to have to sign off on all the relief orders sought by the plaintiffs [at 147]. This is NOT going to end well for any authority.

The MSM has taken this story and run with it, the FBI and the NZ Police are not being portrayed in a good light, if they even can be.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:41am

Re:
this, plus they actually deprived the legitimate owners of content of access to that content. so "theft" seems literally true.
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Josh in CharlotteNC (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:41am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
I'm in. :)

Also, if you commit a fallacy, you lose a square - I suspect I'm guilty of an occasional strawman - to make us all better debaters.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:43am

Re: Re:
You mad bro?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
G Thompson (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:45am

Re:
Yes to the first question and maybe to the second. The second needs to look at relevance and admissibility which is why the Judge has ordered that the data seized be analysed to determine what is and is not relevant to the charges faced by Dotcom.

She has also ordered that:
* An independent and "appropriately experienced" High Court lawyer conduct the review.
* Copies of electronic data containing only relevant material be provided to US authorities.
* All items deemed not relevant be returned to Mr Dotcom.
* Any copies of relevant data which are provided to the US authorities must also be provided to Mr Dotcom.
* The auditor-general request from the US authorities the "voluntary" return of the clones removed from New Zealand.

Depending on appeal and what occurs on 4th July is when motions of admissibility (and other responses) and procedures will most likely be raised and dealt with.
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Josh in CharlotteNC (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:48am

Re: Re:
First they fight you, then they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then you win.

/scrambled Ghandi
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Logan2057 (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 6:58am

Re:
Bub, were you born a complete, oh sorry, an incomplete, bloody, idiot or did you have to work at it. People like you shill and whine in defense of the MAFIAA and for what? A wee bit of recognition by a group of companies that have an over blown sense of self entitlement and obviously like the smell of their own rear end considering how far they have their bloody heads shoved up them.
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SkullCowboy (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 7:00am

Re: Re:
Okay, but should they be reviewing anything seized, since they never should have seized it to begin with? I know laws are complicated but it would seem the first act (unlawfully seizing) would cancel out the ability to perform the second act (reviewing for relevance to the charges).
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Greevar (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 7:08am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
I agree, this is nothing but a power struggle and the *AA's bungled it big-time. They're scared shitless that they might loose the monopoly on promoting artists and they made a blind hail Mary that blew up in their faces. I, for one, would welcome a shift in the power of distribution and promotion going from the corporation to the artists themselves.
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Paul Hobbs (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 7:16am

Re: Re:
Seriously, could you be a bigger tool? So you don't like Mike, we get it. Or is this some kind of unrequited thing?

If you disagree with something Mike said, or with one of the comments, make an argument. No need to be a baby and chuck your toys around.
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techflaws (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 7:16am

Re:
those that lie for a living

Thanks for proving yet again that the industry is even too cheap to pay the people shilling for them on this board. OTOH, given the quality of your drivel I wouldn't pay you either.
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Brent (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 7:17am

HAHAHAHAHHAHA, now go free and sue...everyone. Kim should sue every government agency involved in this debacle and then sue them again for stealing his companies data. then he should give each of his members some sort of refund for their data being copied (in addition to returning their data to them). So glad our government (and New Zealand's) could make itself look like a jackass.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 7:20am

Re:
No doubt the feds will extend an invitation to Dotcom to board the next flight to the US and retrieve his disks himself, eh?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Lord Binky, 28 Jun 2012 @ 7:22am

I would really enjoy this costing the agencies quite a lot of budget. That might finally tarnish this love affair they have with certain industries.
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Greevar (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 7:25am

Re: Re:
Even in the US, it is illegal to search and seize without a warrant that states specifically what and whom is to be seized. To do otherwise is trying to put the cart before the horse. You can't suspect someone of wrong doing and then break down their door to search for something, anything, illegal because you "think" they do. However, this is what the US had NZ police do.

"I think that really nice house is harboring criminal activity. I'll just get a warrant that says I can bust in and look for anything to support that opinion. Then I'll take anything there that I feel will support my suspicion and arrest the residents until I can examine the evidence for anything I can formally charge them with."

Pretty much that.
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ltlw0lf (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 7:28am

Re: Re:
Calling Mike Masnick a coward while hiding behind an Anonymous Coward tag shows who the real coward is. Enjoy your self righteous indignation while it lasts.

What is so funny is that these "copyright industries" are trying so hard to remove the anonymous nature of the internet because "people can use the anonymity to file share." If they are successful at removing anonymity, what is going to happen to their anonymous shills? Will they finally be exposed or will there be a get-out-of-jail card for them?
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 7:36am

Re: Re: Re:
I like sunny side up Ghandi
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 7:36am

Re: Re: Re:
So they busted in and took all his assets by force. Isn't that what piracy was orignally?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
PaulT (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 7:47am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
No.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
jupiterkansas (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 7:59am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
I prefer the hard boiled Ghandi of Civilization.
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The eejit (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 8:12am

Re:
I'd much rather they were shot first and questions asked later. Although, that would be the SOP of the DoJ in the NoZ.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Almost Anonymous (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 8:15am

Re: Re: Re:
I was going to say this exact thing. The more vehement they are, the more credit I give to the article. It's kind of like a reverse truthometer!
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varagix, 28 Jun 2012 @ 8:40am

Re: Re:
I'm pretty sure the next step is them posting garbled messes of text over and over on every article as a way to try to clog up the comment stream here.

Apparently you weren't here for the "what happened last week that 'wasn't much to talk about'" troll. Of the 200+ comments of that story, at least half had to have been that guy.
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DogBreath, 28 Jun 2012 @ 8:51am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Actually, more like: They needed evidence to get warrants originally, so they got warrants to try and find evidence to get the warrants that they didn't have enough evidence to get in the first place.

TL;DR = They went fishing, ended up orchard harvesting, and now the fruit of the poisonous tree is all rotten.
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varagix, 28 Jun 2012 @ 8:55am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Right. Its 'privateering'. Pirates don't have governments backing them up.
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A Non-Mouse, 28 Jun 2012 @ 8:59am

Re: Re: Re:
Earlier in this train wreck I would have agreed that MU was gone for good. But it's starting to look like it has a chance of returning in some (new & improved!) form. And here's the real problem:

If/when it does return, Kim will have learned a few valuable lessons. He would undoubtedly copy (steal!) a few pages from the Pirate Bay playbook and protect the system a bit better. This has nothing to do with supporting or encouraging piracy, just protecting your business from those that seek to destroy it by any means.
Second, it would return with MUCH fanfare and likely become more popular than ever. Again, refer to TPB. Every time a country declares war & tries to block TPB, it's popularity there skyrockets.
Lastly (and perhaps this is just wishful thinking), one would hope that foreign governments will look back on this debacle and begin to show just a bit of restraint when asked to join in on these **AA crusades. With all of the social & economical problems that exist around the world today, is this really the best use of our limited resources?

Again, I'm not predicting that MU will return, just saying that the odds seem to be increasing.
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weneedhelp (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 9:03am

Re: Re:
Thats Lord High Piracy Apologist to you buddy.

Feed the troll nom nom nom.
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MrWilson, 28 Jun 2012 @ 9:15am

Re: Re: Re: Re: "Copyright is Theft"
"Actually copyright as a concept is a form of theft since you are removing a fundamental right to copy away from people for a limited amount of time"

It's not even a limited time anymore in reality. If I die before anything created in my lifetime goes into the public domain, that's all the time I could possibly have to use those works, therefore it's removing a fundamental right to copy for each individual's eternity.
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G Thompson (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 9:16am

Re: Re: Re:
Which is why the order for an "An independent and 'appropriately experienced' High Court lawyer conduct the review" was given.

This allows bias to be removed, impartiality to be shown and for the court to see 'in camera under seal' evidence that could otherwise be poisoned or at the least tainted by "fishing expeditions".

I understand your confusion, but the basic reason for the 'review' is that a legal warrant was granted. That warrant was not correct though the original court ordered warrant still applies to 'relevant to the matter at hand and in that instance ONLY' material.

If the impartial reviewer finds stuff that was specific (this does not mean smoking gun or exigent evidence instead it means things like data relevant to megaUpload or to payments to Dotcom via mega etc. Not things like "pool data records" (not joking that was one of the seized items). So those irrelevant sources will be removed, given back and the USG forced to NEVER use it on pain of criminal sanctions (i would expect reading the tone of the ruling).
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MrWilson, 28 Jun 2012 @ 9:20am

Re: Re:
The government cannot break the law if it follows the will of the people (who run corporations). Please view this 2 hour video on the various outfits in the emperor's wardrobe as a part of your mandatory freedom re-education curriculum. Then get back to work, you freedom-hating terrorist.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
MrWilson, 28 Jun 2012 @ 9:25am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Does that count if we make the fallacies in parody or jest?
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MrWilson, 28 Jun 2012 @ 9:31am

Re: Re:
Not to mention it's gotten to the point where regulars can anticipate and pre-emptively post all the talking points of the shills. So they don't even need to show up anymore anyway.
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MrWilson, 28 Jun 2012 @ 9:31am

Re: Re: Re:
[insert shill response here about how my mom's fat or I'm just another piracy lover or both]
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MrWilson, 28 Jun 2012 @ 9:45am

Re: Re: Re:
In breaking news today, the transoceanic internet cables to New Zealand were accidentally cut by a deep sea research vessel owned by Pirate Hunter Research Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. An engineering firm recently acquired by the Warner Music Group, who said it was expanding the scope of its business interests, said that restoring the cable may take six months to a year, though further delays may also occur depending on particular diplomatic negotiations with the government of New Zealand.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The eejit (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 9:54am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
This is the fundamental difference between a privateer and a pirate. So, if we download with Government backing (in order to trace pirates, for example) we're privateering! Which is totally different from piracy, honest!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The eejit (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 9:55am

Re:
Actually, that's offensive to the Judge. He'd arrest you for likening him to the MAFIAA.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
PRMan, 28 Jun 2012 @ 9:55am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
No. More like outright theft. Because unlike piracy, Dotcom didn't get to keep a copy of what was rightfully his.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Franklin G Ryzzo (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 10:09am

Re:
These types of people, those that lie for a living, usually give themselves cancer by age 50-55

Got it...

Steve Jobs was a liar...

Thanks for clearing that up!
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 10:21am

Re: Re: Re:
Excitable boys crossed with keystone cops. Or a hot mess crossed with a ridiculous farce if you prefer.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward With A Unique Writing Style, 28 Jun 2012 @ 10:47am

Re: Re: Re:
"Apparently you weren't here for the "what happened last week that 'wasn't much to talk about'" troll. Of the 200+ comments of that story, at least half had to have been that guy."

And that's just one article. The one after it had about a third of the article's comments all made by him. With the rest being from us basically ignoring him (which was great and only ticked him off even more, to the point that others on his side kept trying to take shots at the rest of us "Reported How does that feel? LOL".

Man, that guy's annoying. But you know what, I'm almost positive that it's the same AC who spammed El-P's article and basically took over half the comments by himself in that one too. As well as doing the same in a handful of other articles since. Where he repeats the phrase "How much does the pirate bay pay artists?" and "Where are the contracts from the pirate bay with artists?" Fuck. If there was ever one person's parents who should've without a doubt aborted I can with 100% certainty (on my part and in my opinion) say it should've been his/hers (although it's probably a "his").
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TtfnJohn (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 10:53am

Re: Huh?
You got some medical studies to back that one up? There's one hell of a pool of people to study, namely politicians and a large selection of PR people just to start. It's also easier to study them than AC trolls cause everyone knows who they are.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 11:01am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Sorry! I meant the classic pirates in history. Not the glamorized name of copyright infringment.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
TtfnJohn (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 12:06pm

Re: Re: Re:
You can bet your bottom dollar that Dotcom's legal team will be challenging the acceptance and admissibility of any relevant evidence found, if there is much.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall in Chambers as that's going on!
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 12:07pm

Re: Re:
It wouldn't be the first, and sadly won't be the last time, the DoJ has taken what a cartel member told them as the gospel truth, started a case, and when it came time to present evidence suddenly the cartel is to busy to return calls.
Look at dajaz1, the DoJ kept the case alive waiting and praying that the RIAA could give them the list of infringing material to make the slam dunk case, they got silence from the RIAA... and copies of emails from the "ripped off" labels sending out the songs asking to be put on the blog.
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TtfnJohn (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 12:18pm

Re: Re:
Doesn't it bother you in the least that things like due process, proper procedure and all that legal stuff that guarantees things like a fair trial later on got kicked to the curb on this one?

It seems to bother Madam Justice Helen Winkelmann a whole lot. And I suspect her opinion and knowledge of the relevant law in New Zealand is a whole lot better than yours or mine.

Given the US DoJ's actions here I suspect they may try to appeal on your grounds. Given her status as Chief Justice of New Zealand's High Court I suspect that her ruling will be hard to poke holes into which is the only grounds for appeal in this kind of ruling. She's been around a bit and she definitely knows her law. Good luck to 'em. They're probably going to need it.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 12:22pm

Re: Re:
Quote
"The only evidence anyone needs that Mike Masnick is the slimiest coward in history, is that despite devoting his blog to defending piracy, he STILL is so ashamed of it that he refused to just come right out and admit it.

These types of people, those that lie for a living, usually give themselves cancer by age 50-55; This type of behavior is just not what the physical representation of ourselves was designed for."
-----------------------
"Masnick truly is the biggest pirate apologists on the 'net. The shame that this obvious brings him is definitely cutting his life short. That, plus the obesity."

Wow........quoting yourself.......thats pretty pathetic

I guess if the shoe fits
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DogBreath, 28 Jun 2012 @ 12:28pm

Re:
So the statement, "you wouldn't steal a car" finally has an real world ending: "unless you're a government who violates their own laws and can get away with that kind of thing."
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 12:29pm

Re: Re:
Pheonix rising
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 12:36pm

Re: Re: Re:
ahhhhhhhhh, someones got a school yard crush on mike
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[citation needed or GTFO], 28 Jun 2012 @ 1:16pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
You mean "aw" with a "w."

The way you said it means that Mike got crushed with a schoolyard.
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Hephaestus (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 2:52pm

Re:
The feds didn't clone the drives they copied out a small amount of data. To copy out the entire data set would have taken a week and a semi full of hard drives.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hephaestus (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 2:58pm

Re: Re: Re:
Most of the **AA types seem to be melting down recently. SOPA, PIPA, ACTA, Mega Upload, their puppet AG Holder being held in contempt of congress, etc all seem to be contributing to their "Crazies".
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hephaestus (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:07pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
"one would hope that foreign governments will look back on this debacle and begin to show just a bit of restraint when asked to join in on these **AA crusades."

You are dealing with a closed room - cult mentality with the **AA's and law enforcement. It will happen again.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hephaestus (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:16pm

Re: Re:
Kim_Dot_Com on twitter
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hephaestus (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 3:22pm

Re: Re: Re:
MegaGate - That's the bridge that runs from the DOJ directly to Disney headquarters isn't it?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 5:56pm

Sounds familiar!
Back in the late 1980s, the French Government thought they could enter NZ, commit an act of terrorism (the Rainbow Warrior) and get out without the NZ police being able to do anything! The NZ police did solve the case, arrested two agents and issued international arrest warrents for the remainder!

Now the US government thinks they can run roughshod over NZ law, like they do to everyone else, in their "do as I say, not as I do" hypocritical attitude! This time, the NZ Judiciary is proving that they will stand up to the rule of law, unfortunately, the police have become enthralled by the stories from the US authorities!

Good to see the US being shown that their laws don't apply all over the world (how many US citizens think their constitution covers them outside the US anyway?)!
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 8:40pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
It's worse when you consider he needs four people to run that pile of tripe he calls a site "dedicated to ethical fans". Ethical fans don't perform hit-and-run operations on other sites that disagree with them.

What's laughable is that for all the whining they make about not making enough money all four of them have the luxury to go to various sites and call everyone thieves. And there's four of these guys. Four! Is even spreading hatred and ad hominem so difficult that they need four people to do it?
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 9:41pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
"Is even spreading hatred and ad hominem so difficult that they need four people to do it?"

Only if you lack creativity and talent.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 9:47pm

Re: Sounds familiar!
"Back in the late 1980s, the French Government thought they could enter NZ, commit an act of terrorism (the Rainbow Warrior) and get out without the NZ police being able to do anything! The NZ police did solve the case, arrested two agents and issued international arrest warrents for the remainder!"

It was because of alert members of the public rather than the keystone cops that the terrorist agents were caught. Then we gave them back to the French anyhow.

The good news is we did not up and attack Iraq in response, or start a mass hysteria and do away with all our civil rights so we could be molested by minimum wage thugs every time we want to get on a plane.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jun 2012 @ 10:38pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
They didn't bungle anything, really. MegaUpload was on the doorstep of offering a legitimate, viable competing service to what the major labels offer. That competition is now delayed at least a year, and most likely two or more years. Not to mention that other services have been seriously frightened off from daring to risk entering the space.

Even if the case falls apart and MegaUpload rises from the asses like a Phoenix, the major labels have still managed to once again artificially sustain their lives a bit longer.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The Groove Tiger (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 10:55pm

Re: Re:
In the words of another troll:

LOL! WTF! OMG ROFLMAO! WUT? LOL!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The Groove Tiger (profile), 28 Jun 2012 @ 10:57pm

Re:
There's a saying: don't feed the trolls.

I disagree. We absolutely need to feed the trolls. How else will we get quality entertainment like this?

For that, I've developed the new Troll Chow, the only one with extra PirateApologist flavour thingy bits. To ensure that your troll has a healthy and shiny coat of fur, remember to feed your troll at least twice a day.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
JMT (profile), 29 Jun 2012 @ 12:23am

Re: Re:
"Nor is it likely that any of the evidence collected at his mansion during the raid is needed to make the case against Dotcom."

So explain to us why it was taken again?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2012 @ 9:26am

Re:
"These types of people, those that lie for a living..."

Like you, boy?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2012 @ 9:27am

It increasingly feels like they did this because they felt the need to "do something" right after the effort to pass SOPA and PIPA stalled out -- and in their rush to make Hollywood like them again, the feds didn't bother to actually pay much attention to the details.

This was no rushed effort to do something. No, I think they thought NZ would just roll-over for the US and ship Kim off without so much as a thought. They ignore US law and felt they could do the same internationally. They're trying to extradite O 'Dwyer and they're pushing their laws (ACTA, SOPA) on other countries, why wouldn't they think they could succeed here?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2012 @ 9:28am

Re: Re:
"Masnick truly is the biggest pirate apologists on the 'net."

"Masnick" is singular.
"apologists" is plural.
You didn't pass 4th Grade English, did you, boy?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
techinabox (profile), 29 Jun 2012 @ 12:17pm

Re: Re: Re:
I imagine getting fake IDs for astroturfing and marketing will be easy for the companies that hate anonymity.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Nom du Clavier (profile), 30 Jun 2012 @ 5:33am

Re: Re:
You'd think he has a death wish, because if 'those that lie for a living give themselves cancer by age 50-55', K Street must have a higher incident rate than pretty much the rest of the entire world.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Vindicator, 30 Jun 2012 @ 1:13pm

Re: Megaupload.
There were Numerous Problems from the beginning. First Megaupload is a worldwide company, and they were following all the laws they were supposed to. Second The US is Trying to Impose US law where it ought not be imposed. Third Illegal Search and seizure. this was all stuff I noted at the time, this all originally went down. If they could use this kind of man power and and trumped up charges to do this, why don't they do it where it really matters like all the countries that are producing child porn and violating innocents. The short answer there is Human Life is Cheap and the almighty dollar reigns supreme! ie. Hollywood makes a lot of money, so they matter more. The US should not be imposing US law on anyone but the US, and its citizens and companies because corporations are people now and should be accountable and executable. This whole thing was a joke from the beginning. and with movies like the avengers making almost $700 million! I don't think its affecting sales.
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Slim, 2 Jul 2012 @ 2:42am

Re: Re: Megaupload.
According to Hollywood numbers Avengers prolly made a million $ loss....
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Slim, 2 Jul 2012 @ 2:46am

Re: Re: Re: Megaupload.
*Billion ofc* Doh!
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