New Zealand court rules in favour of Kim Dotcom: assets could be unfrozen

A High Court in Auckland, New Zealand denied today the Crown’s application for an extension of the freezing orders on Kim Dotcom’s assets.

The Megaupload founder’s New Zealand assets, which include millions of dollars, cars and other valuables, have been frozen for the past two years on request of the United States. Dotcom is under investigation in the US on a series of charges related to Megaupload’s business, spanning from copyright infringement to money laundering.

Dotcom is still awaiting his extradition hearing in New Zealand but as he has managed to win the hearts of a good chunk of the population there granting it could prove to be an extraordinarily unpopular move. It seems like the US’s heavy-handed approach and the much-publicised raid on Dotcom’s house, coupled with his media-savviness and openness, has totally backfired on rights holders creating an unlikely hero.

Dotcom and the other two founders of Megaupload were hit with new lawsuits lead by the MPAA and the RIAA last week but these cannot count towards a renewal of the freezing orders.

In the next two weeks the decision could be appealed but after that Dotcom would automatically receive his assets back.

Dotcom has been fighting the lawsuits fiercely with a relatively limited budget and has been so far pretty successful. If he was to get his assets back his legal firepower would make it a hundred times more difficult for the US to get him out of the country or even to simply continue the legal barrage both in the US and other territories like Hong Kong. Commenting on the ruling Dotcom tweeted: "The NZ asset ruling is HUGE. We've just filed a case in Hong Kong against unlawful seizure of #Megaupload. The U.S. case is falling apart!" and also "Our assets were seized for 800 days and still I was able to fight back even with my hands tied behind my back. Imagine what I can do now!!!"

(Andrea Leonelli)