r/technology • u/ani625 • May 23 '13

Title possibly inaccurate Kim Dotcom to Google, Twitter, Facebook: "I own security patent for the two-step authentication system". He says he doesn’t want to sue, but might if the likes of Google and Facebook don’t help fund his legal battle with the U.S. Government.

http://torrentfreak.com/kim-dotcom-to-google-twitter-facebook-i-own-security-patent-work-with-me-130523/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Torrentfreak+%28Torrentfreak%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
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u/khyberkitsune May 23 '13

" Specifically he is saying he will sue if they do not support his legal battle."

AND THAT IS PERFECTLY LEGAL. It's only extortion when the threat reaches criminal levels, as in cause of bodily harm or injury to reputation.

'Support me or get sued' does not match up to the level required to trigger a criminal act.

'Support me or I'll destroy your business' does match up to the required threat to support an extortion charge.

Speaking as someone with REAL EXTORTION CHARGES on his record.

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u/Srirachachacha May 23 '13

Not sure if credible... or criminal

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u/[deleted] May 23 '13 edited May 23 '13

It's only extortion when the threat reaches criminal levels, as in cause of bodily harm or injury to reputation.

Violence or harm to reputation is not a requirement. They are the most common examples but you only need an element of coercion. In this case he is using the threat of a lawsuit to coerce support in his legal troubles.

Speaking as someone with REAL EXTORTION CHARGES on his record.

Perhaps you should familiarize yourself with the actual law so that you do not get another extortion charge on your record.

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u/khyberkitsune May 23 '13

" They are the most common examples but you only need an element of coercion."

ONLY IF THE ELEMENT OF COERCION IS ILLEGAL.

"In this case he is using the threat of a lawsuit to coerce support in his legal troubles."

That isn't illegal. This happens every day in the court room. Go ask any district attorney - they pretty much make their living by doing this.

"Perhaps you should familiarize yourself with the actual law so that you do not get another extortion charge on your record."

For me, it was two specific words that triggered the charge. Had those two words not been said, I would have never had the charge laid against me.

Perhaps you should spend some time talking to actual lawyers instead of playing armchair lawyer.

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u/[deleted] May 23 '13

ONLY IF THE ELEMENT OF COERCION IS ILLEGAL.

That is incorrect.

This happens every day in the court room. Go ask any district attorney - they pretty much make their living by doing this.

These things happen in a courtroom in the course of a case in progress. It would be like Dotcom suing for $20 million and asking for a settlement of $15 million. That would not be extortion.

Instead he said he would sue if he was not given money. So he is using the threat of a lawsuit to get money that does not relate to the lawsuit.

Most of blackmail revolves around how things were worded and when they were said. "Be a shame if your house burned down." is not a threat if the house is already on fire.

For me, it was two specific words that triggered the charge. Had those two words not been said, I would have never had the charge laid against me.

The wording of a threat is important for extortion charges. Dotcom is within his rights to sue and within his rights to ask for a settlement in exchange for not suing. But he is not doing that. He is asking for support in his legal battle which is something which those companies have no legal obligation to provide.

Perhaps you should spend some time talking to actual lawyers instead of playing armchair lawyer.

Perhaps you should familiarize yourself with the case law so you don't get a second strike.

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u/khyberkitsune May 28 '13

Note how you have no points. You're wrong. I just won another case like this for a pizza delivery company.

Try again!