Megaupload case near collapse
The criminal charges against Kim Dotcom in the United States may never get to trial, the judge overseeing the case has told the FBI.
United States district court judge Liam O'Grady said he didn't know if "we are ever going to have a trial in this matter" after being told Dotcom's file-sharing company had never been formally served with criminal papers by the US.
The comment has been seized on by Dotcom's lawyers, who say it could lead to the extradition case in New Zealand being tossed out. It follows a paperwork error by New Zealand authorities, who seized Dotcom's property without giving proper notice. The restraining order on his property was finally granted last week. Megaupload was the world's biggest file-sharing website and claimed it was responsible for 4 per cent of internet traffic.
