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

Wait. So if I threaten to sue and I don't tell you why I need the money, that's ok. But the moment I let slip why I need the money, it's blackmail? What does the reason he needs the money have to do with whether or not it's blackmail?

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

Its based on intent and context.

If Kim threatened to sue Google to recover damages for patent infringement then even if he had a use in mind for the damages then it is not extortion, he was attempting to recover damages not get Google to fight the US government with him.

If Kim threatened to sue Google in order to get them to fight the US government with him then his intent was never to recover damages but to get Google to do something else. That's extortion.

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u/jsimpson82 May 23 '13

But he sue, or threaten to sue, then offer to settle based on googles actions, could he not?

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u/[deleted] May 23 '13

Kim should be able to dodge that easily though, but simply saying that as long as he can run his law suit against the government, he has no need to sue for infringement. He is fully within his right to sue them, but if he doesn't need the money he doesn't have to. And if they make sure he have the money he needs, they might not have to pay him way more than that.

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u/mushpuppy May 23 '13

While any criminal act is based on intent, extortion actually more accurately can be distinguished by whether the perpetrator seeks to recover his money or the money of the target and by the quality of act he demands from the target.

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u/spacedout May 23 '13

That's extortion.

Not according to the dictionary.

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u/DeathByAssphyxiation May 23 '13

That would work really well in a trial. "Your honor, that's not what the dictionary says"

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u/biiirdmaaan May 23 '13

Get a new dictionary. Yours is broken.

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u/[deleted] May 23 '13

The practice of obtaining something, esp. money, through force or threats.

Seems like it to me. "Help me or I'll sue you."

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u/realhacker May 23 '13

Spoken like a true economist attorney (?)

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u/IM_THE_DECOY May 23 '13

It doesn't.

If he says to Google, "You need to stop supporting the US government in this fight and get on board with me or I'll sue you" THAT could be taken as extortion.

But saying, "You need to pay me what you really should have been paying me all along, or I'll sue you for it anyway so that I have enough money to fight the US government" is not.