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Kim Dotcom outside court. - Source: ONE News -
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The judge due to hear Kim Dotcom's extradition case has referred to the United States as "the enemy" in a discussion about copyright law.
District Court Judge David Harvey is due to hear the internet mogul's extradition case next year but has made his views on copyright known during last week's launch of a campaign opposing the Trans Pacific Partnership.
Harvey commented "we have met the enemy, and he is the US," a play on a quote by American cartoonist Walt Kelly, the National Business Review reported .
The TPP could stop the practice of hacking around DVD region codes, Harvey said, which is currently legal under the Copyright Amendment Act 2008. The region codes prevent New Zealanders playing DVDs from other parts of the world.
The TPP would also force New Zealand to recognise software patents, opening New Zealand companies to a series of lawsuits from so-called "patent trolls".
The lobby group opposing the partnership, called the "A Fair Deal" coalition, wants the Government to refuse to change intellectual copyright laws to accommodate US demands.
A Fair Deal said forcing changes to copyright laws would take a major toll on New Zealand.
Last week it was announced Dotcom's extradition hearing would be put off until next year, after being scheduled to start at the North Shore District Court on August 6.
The Megaupload founder called the change "dirty delay tactics" on Twitter.