SYDNEY — The Australian Federal Court Nov. 17 ordered Kazaa parent Sharman Network’s CEO Nikki Hemming to submit to questions about her assets.
Judge Michael Moore also ruled in Sydney that Hemming must supply an affidavit by Dec. 9 listing all Sharman’s assets, including details of bank accounts, balances and trusts.
Judge Moore wants Hemming to answer questions about her interest in the complex Vanuatu-based Sharman Trust — which he described as “opaque”– and on the February 2005 sale of her home in Sydney to a former Sharman accountant. Moore described the sale as “unusual,” as it occurred “at a time when final submissions were being made in the primary proceedings.”
In a statement, Sharman Networks responded, “We are disappointed with today’s hearing since we have fully cooperated and complied with the wishes of the court. We will review the orders and consider our options.”
In September, the Federal Court in Sydney found Sharman and five others liable for authorizing Kazaa users to infringe the copyrighted recordings of 30 record labels.
The court recently turned down Australian record companies’ request for seeking the immediate and permanent closure of the peer-to-peer file-sharing system Kazaa.
