Megaupload founder offers to fly to US to face piracy charges

Kim Dotcom has offered to travel to the US of his own volition to face charges over alleged copyright infringements related to his now defunct Megaupload cloud storage service.

Under house arrest in Christchurch, New Zealand since February, the German national, who has previously opposed extradition attempts made by US prosecutors, offered terms to the Department of Justice over Twitter.

“Hey DOJ (Department of Justice), we will go to the US. No need for extradition,” he wrote. “We want bail, funds unfrozen for lawyers & living expenses.”

Along with a three other Megaupload employees, Dotcom faces numerous charges, including money laundering, racketeering, fraud and online copyright theft, centring on the claim that the group made $175m since 2005 through the copying and distribution of pirated content. If found guilty, the group members face up to 20 years behind bars.

Last month CloudTech reported that a New Zealand court had discovered legal …