Canadian Court Rejects U.S. Request For Unrestricted Access to Megaupload Servers

By Wolfgang Gruener
published

Kim Dotcom has scored another victory in ongoing legal proceedings against Megaupload.

In a tweet, Dotcom announced that he has won "every court battle against the US Govt in New Zealand, Germany & Canada. Time for US courts to follow the trend."

Dotcom's note was based on a decision by the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario to reject a request by U.S. authorities to receive mirror images of 32 servers that were seized on January 19, 2012. The U.S. government argued that the systems were used as "database / number crunching machines" and should be examined forensically. The data volume is estimated to be "equivalent of that of 100 laptop computers".

However, the case is not closed as the judge found a lack of detail in what data would be disclosed and what not during a forensic investigation. Due to the volume of the data, the judge argues, there needs to be a clear definition of which data will be disclosed and which data will not. If the two parties are not able to agree on the data to be disclosed, the case may end up in court again.

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Wolfgang Gruener
25 Comments Comment from the forums
  • sacre
    I like living in Canada. US Government spews nonsense about freedom then tries to block the internet for its own people (SOPA/PIPA) and continues to try.

    Confuses me really.

    Canada sucks for its taxes though, but when you bust your knee on an ATV and go through the MRI/Surgery without having to go through an insurance company or handed a big bill - those little extra taxes you really don't mind paying.
    Reply
  • Kami3k
    Another reason to move to Canada, they actually have some freedom there.
    Reply
  • ddpruitt
    I don't know why the prosecutors even filed the motion. It would be denied even in a US court. They're not specifying what they're looking for. They'll fix it in a couple of days, resubmit it, and I'm sure they'll get what they want.
    Reply
  • PTNLemay
    I keep hearing about data that was "improperly seized" or "improperly cataloged" so they can't be used as evidence. Did the Feds just have no idea how a raid like this is supposed to be done properly, or are the courts making up all these excuses to help Dotcom get away scott free?
    Reply
  • The data volume is estimated to be "equivalent of that of 100 laptop computers"

    This made me laugh pretty hard. WTF does that even mean?
    Reply
  • unoriginal1
    mikehoncho84The data volume is estimated to be "equivalent of that of 100 laptop computers"This made me laugh pretty hard. WTF does that even mean?haha right? Was thinking the exact same.
    Reply
  • rantoc
    I still think the users are the ones responsible for what content they make available.

    While at it why not go after the us post office that surely have delivered a few bombs from a couple of people. Heck why not cut all electricity as well, those are also services that being used for crimes! /end sarcasm
    (would not surprise me if we get there someday, the elected have for since long forgotten who have elected them in the first place!)
    Reply
  • gamersglory
    sacreI like living in Canada. US Government spews nonsense about freedom then tries to block the internet for its own people (SOPA/PIPA) and continues to try. Confuses me really.Canada sucks for its taxes though, but when you bust your knee on an ATV and go through the MRI/Surgery without having to go through an insurance company or handed a big bill - those little extra taxes you really don't mind paying. actually Canada did try to pass something that was like PIPA/SOPA. so did the U.K., Ireland, France and AUS. and NZ
    Reply
  • abbadon_34
    100 laptops? That's not much. 32 servers, so 3 laptops each, what, 3TB per server max? Someone is screwing up their anologies.
    Reply
  • the great randini
    Muhahahaha eh...
    Reply