International News

AUCKLAND, (APP/AFP) – The protracted battle
to have Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom face video piracy charges in the United States broke new ground Wednesday with live-streaming of his appeal against extradition.
Dotcom won approval to live-stream his bid to avoid leaving New Zealand after successfully arguing that global interest required more than standard brief television clips.
The case, in the Auckland High Court, is expected to last six to eight weeks and while the verdict in at least one previous New Zealand trial has been broadcast live, this is the first time a hearing has been live-streamed in full.
“Show me a short video or picture of how you are watching the live stream right now. Here’s mine,” Dotcom tweeted during the lunch adjournment with a photo of himself watching his lawyers on TV.
Judge Murray Gilbert ruled the case could only be streamed with a 20-minute delay, to allow the court time to prevent any restricted material from being published, and all footage was to be removed from the internet when the hearing ends.