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Days after police in New Zealand arrested Kim DotCom, the founder of cyberlocker service MegaUpload and accused pirate, journalists were chasing reports that a tank was parked on the front lawn of his Auckland home.

"National Radio (New Zealand) called me about a half hour ago because someone texted to say that there's an army tank on Kim's lawn that is aimed at the front gate," France Komoroske, an attorney and DotCom neighbor, wrote CNET. "They asked me to go take a look."

Now, before we go on, put yourself in the position of … Read more

A New Zealand judge today denied bail for MegaUpload founder Kim DotCom in a federal antipiracy case, and his lawyer there said he will appeal the decision immediately.

Judge David McNaughton ruled that DotCom, who operates the popular cyberlocker service MegaUpload, will remain in custody until February 22, when an extradition hearing is expected, according to New Zealand news service TVNZ.

The U.S. government alleges that MegaUpload was a criminal operation that made money by enabling millions of people across the globe to pirate films, TV shows, music, and other media. Federal agents accuse the "MegaUpload Conspiracy" … Read more

The U.S. official who has accused Kim DotCom of operating an online criminal empire has plenty of piracy-fighting experience.

Neil MacBride, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, is the former general counsel and antipiracy enforcer for the Business Software Alliance, a trade group representing software producers such as Apple, Microsoft, Adobe, and Intuit.

MacBride has accused DotCom and six others of operating MegaUpload, a cyberlocker service that has allegedly generated more than $170 million in criminal proceeds. The government asserts that MegaUpload enabled and encouraged users to upload pirated movies and other media to one … Read more

A lawyer representing MegaUpload founder Kim DotCom denied his client has engaged in piracy and told a New Zealand judge the U.S. completely misunderstands the nature of his business.

DotCom, along with three other men accused of helping him run MegaUpload, appeared in court to plead for bail after he was arrested Thursday at his mansion near Auckland. The group is charged with money laundering, racketeering, and online piracy.

In an indictment issued in Virginia, the U.S. contends that MegaUpload was a massive criminal enterprise designed to enable and encourage millions of people to store and distribute unauthorized … Read more

In the face of withering opposition, Senate leaders have postponed a vote on the Protect IP Act that was scheduled for Tuesday.

"In light of recent events, I have decided to postpone Tuesday's vote," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), in a statement.

"There is no reason that the legitimate issues raised by many about this bill cannot be resolved," Reid wrote. "Counterfeiting and piracy cost the American economy billions of dollars and thousands of jobs each year, with the movie industry alone supporting over 2.2 million jobs. We must take action … Read more

The FBI has begun extradition proceedings in New Zealand to bring Kim Dotcom, aka Kim Schmitz, to the United States to face charges of racketeering, money laundering, and Internet piracy.

DotCom and three associates are in custody and are being held without bail until Monday, when a new hearing is scheduled. Three other alleged accomplices are still at large. During a hearing yesterday, DotCom told the court he didn't object to allowing photographers in the courtroom. He said: "We have nothing to hide."

In an interview with CNET, Ira Rothken, an attorney well known in the tech … Read more

The FBI has busted the alleged operators of Internet locker service MegaUpload, which had become one of the most popular video destinations on the Web, according to a statement from the U.S. Justice Department and FBI.

Seven people have been named in an indictment and four suspects have been taken into custody, according to the statement today. They have been charged in Virginia with crimes related to online piracy, including racketeering conspiracy, conspiring to commit copyright infringement, and conspiring to commit money laundering.

The suspects face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, the government said.

According to … Read more

Depending on where you stand, President Obama either showed tremendous courage when he distanced himself from SOPA and PIPA--or a complete lack of it.

Last Saturday, the White House announced it would not support important provisions of the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act, the anti-piracy bills being debated in the House and Senate. The legislation would make it easier for the federal government to block access to overseas sites accused of piracy. Much of the tech sector opposes the bills.

Where Hollywood is concerned, though, the president's stand is nothing short of a betrayal. And … Read more

NEW YORK--Perhaps as many as two thousand people gathered in Midtown Manhattan today to protest antipiracy legislation being considered by Congress, legislation that they say will silence the Internet.

"What does democracy look like?" organizers shouted to the crowd.

"This is what democracy looks like," came the response.

Indeed, those that gathered were part of a new tech-focused twist on the democratic process. Internet companies across the country flexed their political muscles today, rallying Web users to oppose the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act.

Not only was the crowd largely informed of … Read more