Megaupload Chief Kim Dotcom To Be Extradited To U.S. For Trial

Kim Dotcom: No More 'Good Times'

A NEW ZEALAND judge ruled TODAY that Internet entrepreneur KIM DOTCOM is eligible to be extradited to the U.S. to face charges that include copyright infringement and money laundering.

Lawyers for the 39-year-old GERMAN-born technology disruptor born KIM SCHMITZ, who now makes his home in AUCKLAND, have filed an appeal. Three of DOTCOM's colleagues were also said to be eligible for extradition.

The U.S. has charged the men with conspiracy to commit copyright infringement, racketeering and money laundering in relation to the now-defunct file-sharing website MEGAUPLOAD, which prosecutors allege permitted the illegal downloads of copyrighted material, at a cost of more than $500 million to movie studios and record companies.

WEDNESDAY's ruling was only related to the issue of extradition, not guilt or innocence related to the charges.

The judge in the case ruled that the evidence established "a prima facie case to answer for all respondents on each of the counts."

DOTCOM maintains that he should not be held responsible for people who chose to use his site illegally.

"This is my weirdest CHRISTMAS ever," DOTCOM wrote on TWITTER after the ruling, asking followers if they think he should be extradited.

The father of five describes himself as an "Internet Freedom Fighter" on TWITTER.

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