Wednesday, May 7, 2025
HomeCyber Security NewsMegaupload Developers Plead Guilty to Avoid US Extradition

Megaupload Developers Plead Guilty to Avoid US Extradition

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Recently, the High Court in Auckland sentenced the Megaupload programmers to jail after they admitted guilt and agreed to provide testimony against Kim Dotcom.

The two men overseeing the site ‘Megaupload’ received individual prison terms exceeding two years.

Here below, we have mentioned the name of two defendants and their exact prison terms:-

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  • Mathias Ortmann: Received 2 years and 7 months in prison.
  • Bram van der Kolk: Received 2 years and 6 months in prison.

The sentences were reduced significantly, too much less than the original 10-year term, due to considerable discounts due to guilty pleas, the assistance provided to the FBI, and dedicated efforts towards rehabilitation.

The prison sentence was postponed to accommodate Ortmann’s need to be present for the birth of his second child and van der Kolk’s desire to support his critically ill mother, who was present in New Zealand.

After 11 years since their arrest in an FBI operation aimed at bringing down Megaupload, Van der Kolk and Ortmann was finally sentenced.

Due to its effortless accessibility, Megaupload garnered the attention of 4% of internet users worldwide during that time:-

  • Copyrighted films 
  • Copyrighted music
  • Copyrighted television shows
  • Copyrighted video games

Last year, the men entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors from New Zealand and the U.S., confessing their participation in a criminal group and the deceptive actions that caused monetary and financial damages to artists.

While apart from this, the Founder of Megaupload, Kim Dotcom, persists in his battle against the charges brought against him by the U.S. and the imminent possibility of being deported.

Megaupload focused on expanding its content collection by allowing users to freely upload and share copyrighted materials, going as far as providing incentives to encourage such activities.

By offering various attractive content, Megaupload attracted a larger user population, including subscribers who helped generate profits for the platform.

Most Megaupload users, exceeding 90 percent, focused solely on downloading content rather than uploading files.

Megaupload’s payments to individuals who uploaded stolen content have been cited by U.S. authorities and entertainment industry representatives as evidence suggesting the company’s intention to profit from copyright infringement.

Through a tweet, Kim Dotcom expressed his belief that the sentencing is further evidence that copyright law has no jurisdiction over him.

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Gurubaran
Gurubaran
Gurubaran is a co-founder of Cyber Security News and GBHackers On Security. He has 10+ years of experience as a Security Consultant, Editor, and Analyst in cybersecurity, technology, and communications.

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