The founder of file-sharing site Megaupload isn't just considered one of the most notorious digital pirates in the world: he's also one of the best Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 players around. Kim Dotcom (Getty Images) Unfortunately for Kim Dotcom, he's no longer on top of either game. Last week, Dotcom was arrested in his New Zealand mansion over accusations that Megaupload cost copyright holders $500 million in lost revenue by facilitating millions of illegal downloads. That's keeping him tied up in court, which means he's not doing what any hardcore gamer should be doing: protecting his high score. Dotcom, born Kim Schmitz, plays Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 under the name MEGARACER. And on New Year's Eve, MEGARACER managed to become the number 1 ranked player in the world -- no small feat for a game that sold over 15 million copies (and no small irony, considering he ran a site responsible for sharing illegal copies of the game). Stop hatin, stack money. Thanks to his brush with the law, however, he's slipped to the number 2 spot, usurped by a most-definitely-not-in-jail gamer named Azaros. Seeing as how Dotcom's been denied bail -- he's been deemed an 'extreme flight risk' -- it looks like Azaros' score is pretty safe for now. Not that anyone should feel sorry for Dotcom. Though he's denied allegations that he was responsible for one of the world's biggest entertainment piracy operations, his lavish lifestyle has become a focal point of the investigation. Thanks to Megaupload's popularity, authorities believe he has roughly $175 million in assets. And boy, does it show. In addition to pricey art and a fleet of expensive automobiles -- including a 1959 pink Cadillac and a Rolls Royce Phantom -- he reportedly owns a swimming pool filled with imported spring water. Even cooler? One entire wall of his mansion is outfitted with seven 60-inch HD screens, each with its own Xbox 360 console and Lazyboy recliner. That's some serious man-caving. Check out this vid of Dotcom reaching his short-lived Modern Warfare 3 goal. [video=youtube;l-ltcCF_cAQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l-ltcCF_cAQ[/video] http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugge...-founder-loses-call-duty-crown-205144239.html
article is just rubbing it in... the downfall of MU was one of the worst things i been through on the internet. It caused the downfall of almost all ddl sites.
Again, like I've stated years ago, the DPRK (or Zimbabwe, Iran, Myanmar, Cuba, et cetera) is eventually going to wake up and realize that copyright insensitive server service would make them millions in hard international currency. Since there are plenty of countries around the world who don't give a rat's behind about US (or anyone's elses) copyright, it's going to become an eventual source of revenue for those anti-US nations. The ironic thing IMHO, is that US citizens would probably be happy to fund those servers with monthly subscriptions.
50 years is practically life time for him. I think the reason why he got 50 years compared to the 20 years crime is because privacy is a huge criminal offence from the eye of the law, which is quite similar to benefit fraud. It is by far more heavy then rape/murder.
dude should've been like.. I'll give 50mil to anyone who can get me outta jail.. all these pple with baller ass lifestyle.. kiss yo fortune good bye.. I just wonder what happens with all this money thats just chilling in other banks..
If i remember correctly, when I was doing economics at uni, the lecturer told us that in some countries when they do risk assessment (like building a bridge), a human life is worth a few pounds.
Watch the first few episodes of Sandel's "On Justice" for similar perspective on the value of human life
But if you want real justice, just take a look at the 'punishment' that Wall Street executives get; they walked away with multi-million dollar payouts after they'd run their companies into the ground and ruined the life savings of millions. Now there's justice, eh?
