THE New Zealand-based founder of the Megaupload website at the centre of a FBI-lead investigation says the four accused have "nothing to hide".
Founder of www.megaupload.com 37-year-old Kim Dotcom, also known as Kim Schmitz, who is a German national and New Zealand resident, appeared in the North Shore District Court briefly alongside three others on Friday afternoon.
"We don't mind if there is press coverage," Dotcom said to Judge David McNaughton following an application by media to film the court appearance.
"We have nothing to hide."
The four, including two New Zealand residents, are among seven people facing online piracy charges in the United States, after an FBI investigation resulted in one of the world's largest file-sharing websites, megaupload.com, being shut down this morning.
The four face extradition to the US while the remaining three are not thought to be in New Zealand.
As well as Dotcom, appearing in court were the website's chief marketing officer Finn Batato, 38, chief technical officer and co-founder Mathias Ortmann, 40, all of Germany, and Dutch national Bram van der Kolk, 29, who is also a New Zealand resident.
The men were remanded in custody and are due to reappear in court on Monday morning.
A prosecutor representing the US authorities opposed bail.
The group, known as the "Mega Conspiracy", are accused of "massive" online piracy through megaupload.com and other sites, generating $US175 million ($168 million) in criminal proceeds and causing $US500 million in harm to copyright owners.
Police executed 10 search warrants at houses and businesses across Auckland, seizing more than $NZ10 million ($A7.77 million) from financial institutions, and assets, including luxury cars worth $NZ6 million and expensive art works as well as two shot guns.
More than 20 search warrants were executed in the US and eight other countries today.
Officials seized about $US50 million in assets as well as 18 domain names associated with Megaupload.
Following the shutdown of the Megaupload website, hackers have retaliated by taking down the FBI and US Department of Justice sites.
Hackers from the Anonymous group tweeted that they had shut the websites of the FBI, Justice Department, Universal Music, and the Recording Industry Association of America.
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