Kim Dotcom allowed to livestream appeal against extradition to U.S.

Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom can livestream his appeal against extradition to the United States online, a judge in New Zealand ruled Tuesday.

The U.S. has charged Doctom, who founded the now-defunct file-sharing website Megaupload, and three colleagues with conspiracy to commit copyright infringement, racketeering and money laundering.

The U.S. opposed a plan by Dotcom to broadcast the hearing on YouTube. It will be the first court case in New Zealand to be broadcast online.

Following the ruling, German-born Dotcom tweeted: "Live streaming of my hearing is a milestone. We're breaking new ground."

Ira Rothken, Dotcom's lawyer, told The Associated Press: "It provides everybody in the world with a seat in the gallery of the New Zealand courtroom.  It's democracy at its finest."

He said livestreaming of the six-week hearing would begin on YouTube on Wednesday and there would be a 20-minute delay to stop any material protected by the court from becoming public.