I'm done with Kim, every time he starts talking about some new awesome thing he's planning, it just feels more and more like carefully crafted PR stunts, and on top of that every time I ask him on Twitter if he will consider making it FOSS he ignores the question.
When are we going to realize RMS is and was right and what the world needs now is to protect user freedom?
First he ripped off a bunch of people in Germany, when everyone knew that he is a fraud, he went abroad. Everyone here thought he was done for, but suddendly he comes back into the news... because he is hunted by the US for criminal activities.
I see all those “file sharing services” as the same kind of windbaggery. What makes Kim stand out are the stunts the U.S. prosecutors pulled on him. I would consider it more effective to remove the artificial barriers that make regular people even consider piracy as an option. That would put all the Kim Dotcoms squarely out of business.
Sorry for not being clear enough. I was talking about the MegaUpload kind of service. Instead of a long-winded definition, suffice it to say, “I know it when I see it”.
(Edit: supplement:)
There is one thing I can say definitely: If the measures I proposed above would put the services you mentioned out of business, they obviously ought to be, eventually. To be perfectly clear, this is a hypothetical.
It seems like Dotcom these days just uses his position and his notoriety to push products that would otherwise not get much attention. He really tries to leverage his image as an "internet savior" who fights against the evil US government. I haven't been quite so impressed. I think he is just a regular business man more than anything.
> I think he is just a regular business man more than anything.
This is exactly what he is. He's just a business man with a PR firm that makes sure his press releases get posted on reddit and HN.
If you spend even 5 minutes researching his history you will quickly learn he is not an innovator, he's not a crusader for freedom and he's not a hero. He's just another greedy person chasing the dollar via the easiest routes he can find.
Although I agree with your comment, this particular article makes no mention of "fighting for an internet freedom". It's just a very regular - and not so sexy, IMO, product announcement... which proves your point of him being a regular business man.
Hasn't that always been the case. I was always under the impression that he was basically an affiliate scammer that made enough money to pay a team of coders to fulfill his 'business ideas'. All of them bordering on PPC/Affiliate marketing scams and MLM schemes. Seems his only genuine interest is sports cars, hookers and blow.
There is some history missing there. Namely his partnership with THAT lawyer to take down his fellow warez BBS dealers. And the AT&T calling card fraud. Both in the 90's.
I urge anyone reading this to please not work with this man. He is going to need someones assistance to achieve his goals and you will end up in jail or worse.
No matter what he offers you, it will not be worth it.
Why? He made Mega (and then left it, according to the article), which is better than the original in several ways. The name's nicer too, and has a wonderfully short URL. You'd think he'd just go back to the company, or start a different company that doesn't directly compete with one which he almost certainly partially owns.
Edit: he says that NZ seized his shares in Mega. If that's true, it would make sense... but he doesn't have the Mega brand now.
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[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 76.0 ms ] threadWhen are we going to realize RMS is and was right and what the world needs now is to protect user freedom?
First he ripped off a bunch of people in Germany, when everyone knew that he is a fraud, he went abroad. Everyone here thought he was done for, but suddendly he comes back into the news... because he is hunted by the US for criminal activities.
(Edit: supplement:) There is one thing I can say definitely: If the measures I proposed above would put the services you mentioned out of business, they obviously ought to be, eventually. To be perfectly clear, this is a hypothetical.
He is just doesnt know when to stop. Thats his problem.
This is exactly what he is. He's just a business man with a PR firm that makes sure his press releases get posted on reddit and HN.
If you spend even 5 minutes researching his history you will quickly learn he is not an innovator, he's not a crusader for freedom and he's not a hero. He's just another greedy person chasing the dollar via the easiest routes he can find.
Its not like he is a traveling curtain sales man. This guy is a fraud and a sociopath. Do not do business with this man.
I urge anyone reading this to please not work with this man. He is going to need someones assistance to achieve his goals and you will end up in jail or worse.
No matter what he offers you, it will not be worth it.
Edit: he says that NZ seized his shares in Mega. If that's true, it would make sense... but he doesn't have the Mega brand now.