International Enforcement of U.S. IP Law

[mewpro]

As far as I am aware the operations of Megaupload and all related sites were based abroad and the guys which are currently being arrested by the United States are not citezens of the country. I wish to know therefore, how this law can apply to non-us citezens, when it is only a law of the US?
And also under what circumstances is a company operated mainly in Hong Kong under legistation Of the United States goverment?
It seems to me that the without having visa or residents in the US, you can not possibly be commiting a crime under that country, I am clearly wrong however and would like some clarity as to the whole situation.

[jk]

they maintained servers within the US so that subjects them to US law. On top of that, many laws are enforceable world wide.

[flyingron]

US and China (Nationally, and Hong Kong specifically) are subject to a number of mutual copyright treaties. As JK said, US law based on our participation in these conventions makes us defend the foreign copyrights and vice versa.