Kim Dotcom can be extradited, New Zealand High Court rules

Kim Dotcom's Megaupload allowed users to share films and songs online

Kim Dotcom, the founder of content-sharing site Megaupload, can legally be extradited to the US, New Zealand's High Court has ruled.

Dotcom is wanted by the US on a number of charges including fraud and copyright infringement.
Three other Megaupload accused can also be extradited, the court said, upholding an earlier ruling in the District Court

Mr Dotcom has long argued he was not responsible for the content others shared on his site

The four have said they will appeal against the decision. Megaupload, which was shut down in 2012, allowed millions of people to download movies and songs.


The High Court ruled that the accused could not be extradited on the basis of alleged copyright infringement since "online communication of copyright protected works to the public is not a criminal offence in New Zealand".

However the judge said that they could be extradited on the fraud charges, as they are crimes in New Zealand law.