British student escapes extradition to US over TVShack website - Polidicks

[B]A student who created a website that helped people to watch films and TV shows for free has reached an agreement to avoid extradition to the U.S. over copyright infringement allegations, the High Court was told today.[/B] Sheffield Hallam University undergraduate Richard O’Dwyer was facing extradition after allegedly earning thousands of pounds through advertising on the TVShack website before it was closed down by the U.S. authorities. He could have faced jail if convicted of the allegations, which were brought following a crackdown by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. O'Dwyer ran a site called TVShack.net, which was shut in 2011 by US Immigration and Customs. The site hosted links to other websites, where users could find streams of TV shows and films. Today a judge at London’s High Court was told O’Dwyer has signed a draft agreement in the last two days that[B] involves him travelling to the U.S. and paying compensation, but avoiding a trial and criminal record if found guilty[/B]. Edward Fitzgerald QC, representing O'Dwyer, said: 'He has signed a draft agreement in the last two days. '[B]It will not involve criminal conviction - it will simply involve him going to the US, and there is a sum of compensation.[/B] 'As a result of him signing that we do not anticipate any problem at all to there being a finalisation [of the extradition process]. 'Whatever happens with the extradition, he has signed the agreement and will honour the agreement; he wants this matter resolved. 'I'm as sure as one can be that this matter is not going to go ahead. 'We entirely trust the United States will stick to the agreement.' [B]The Sheffield Hallam University computer science student, who was not present at today's hearing, was arrested by the City of London Police in November 2010 at the request of US investigators. [/B] John Jones, for the US, said the deal simply needed to be approved by 'a higher authority'. 'It's a formality,' he said. His extradition application is expected to return to the High Court in 15 days’ time so it can formally be disposed of. Home Secretary Theresa May agreed to O’Dwyer’s surrender after a court ruled in January that his extradition would be lawful. O’Dwyer was facing the prospect of being the first British citizen to be extradited for such an alleged copyright offence and [B]his lawyers argued he would effectively become a 'guinea pig' for copyright law in the U.S.[/B] His mother Julia O’Dwyer, from Chesterfield, said she was 'disgusted' when she heard of the U.S. attempt to extradite her son and claimed[B] the UK’s extradition treaty with the U.S. 'needs fixing fast'[/B]. Isabella Sankey, Liberty's director of policy, said: 'This will be a huge relief for Richard - but how appalling that he had to wait so long for the US authorities to make this decision. '[B]Case after case shows that our extradition arrangements must be overhauled to allow people who have never left these shores to be dealt with here at home[/B]. We need urgent legislation to prevent their torment.' [IMG]http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/11/28/article-2239711-0F73147100000578-526_634x944.jpg[/IMG] [URL]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2239711/British-student-ran-website-helped-people-watch-free-films-escapes-extradition-US-copyright-claims.html[/URL]

Chances of him coming back? 3/10 in my opinion.

So what did he do wrong?

If any country wanted to prosecute me and they are now offering a lesser agreement I wouldnt go fucking near them.

[QUOTE=Scrimp;38626999]So what did he do wrong?[/QUOTE] He set up a website with links to other websites where movies could be streamed. He didn't break any UK law but the US authorities shut his website down and requested he was arrested by UK police and extradited to the US where he would be prosecuted for copyright infringement.

[QUOTE=Wormy;38627292]Google doesn't upload the links theirself, Google only let's you search for stuff on the internet.[/QUOTE] To be fair, TVShack didn't upload their links either. The users did, the same way Google gets theirs. Google just doesn't get sued for it because they could hire every lawyer on the planet to fight for them if they so desired.

[QUOTE=Wormy;38627292]Google doesn't upload the links theirself, Google only let's you search for stuff on the internet.[/QUOTE] Indeed; it's called "don't shoot the messenger". We haven't closed down every single power plants just because of Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima, so why should we shut down the internet because of sick weirdos and illegal file-sharers? That'd be like nuking Detroit because of all the gang-crime; an unnecessarily extreme option that has far greater repercussions than if you dealt with the situation like a surgeon or sniper, taking your time and focusing on the problem areas.

[QUOTE=matt.ant;38627076]He set up a website with links to other websites where movies could be streamed. He didn't break any UK law but the US authorities shut his website down and requested he was arrested by UK police and extradited to the US where he would be prosecuted for copyright infringement.[/QUOTE] I find that a bit silly to be honest. Breaking one countries law in another country where the same law doesn't apply? I don't understand this.

[QUOTE=Scrimp;38627565]I find that a bit silly to be honest. Breaking one countries law in another country where the same law doesn't apply? I don't understand this.[/QUOTE] I understand this at times (for example, hacking isn't punishable in some cases in Russian law, but European countries often ask for extraditions if banks get hacked and somesuch) But in this case it's a joke.

[QUOTE=Amiga OS;38627273]Why hasn't Google been closed down with all the CP and Pirated content it links to?[/QUOTE] He was making £15,000 a month through advertisements, the US claimed he was making money from copyright infringement

Not a bad deal. He escapes all criminal charges but will have to pay compensation? Sounds too good to be true

US stop being a bully before stupid people become smart and you get fucked

It is disgusting that extradition was even being considered. The government say that they want Britain to be independent by becoming dis-involved with the EU, but are bending over and letting America slam them in the ass with their fat greasy cock.

If it was made and hosted in the UK, the fucks it got to do with America? America own the internet? AH yeah I forgot...

He realizes that compensation in american terms is a lot of money, doesn't he? I hope he does. A $1 000 000 charge in "compensation" could really fuck his life over.

The fact that he has to leave England and come here to pay some company is still insane, but I guess it beats one of our prisons. That extradition treaty is crazy.

[QUOTE=Noss;38627968]It is disgusting that extradition was even being considered. The government say that they want Britain to be independent by becoming dis-involved with the EU, but are bending over and letting America slam them in the ass with their fat greasy cock.[/QUOTE]The same reason why the UK is abstaining on the Palestinian vote, Britain is TOO attached to the US (hence the 51st state joke) that it's difficult to reverse this policy. We even have a bullshit term for it: Special Relationship. ---------------- But I'm far too concern on the lack of publicity on an elderly British man who got extradited and sent to a US prison because he sold something to the Iranians. I forgot the product is, was it screws? EDIT: Wait, it was batteries.