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TVShack Creator's US Extradition Approved

Posted by Soulskill on from the send-them-a-link-to-his-picture dept.

chrb writes "British student Richard O'Dwyer, creator of the TVShack website, has had his extradition to the United States approved by Conservative Home Secretary Theresa May. Mr. O'Dwyer now has 14 days to appeal the decision. The extradition was requested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which has accused O'Dwyer of aiding copyright infringement by publishing links to pirated content hosted on external sites."

8 of 253 comments (clear)

  1. Sigh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm more afraid of the US government than I am of any terrorists.

    1. Re:Sigh... by DaMattster · · Score: 5, Insightful

      These days there appears to be very little difference between the US Government and The Terrorists. The US Government just puts everyone in fear of even the remotest possibility of copyright infringement. I remember when that wasn't criminal but a civil offense. America cannot really call itself "The Land of the Free" anymore.

    2. Re:Sigh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which has accused O'Dwyer of aiding copyright infringement by publishing links to pirated content hosted on external sites."

      Kind of like me pointing to a naked woman in the street and saying "look". She gets arrested for indecent exposure and I get arrested for pointing to it.

    3. Re:Sigh... by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The more you outlaw, the less meaning your laws have. More laws never created more justice. Just more criminals.

      And if there's no way to avoid being a criminal... well, why bother trying?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. And again I ask: by cpu6502 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why isn't the U.S. on the Enemies of the Internet 'under surveillance' list? Russia and Australia and the UK are there, but the U.S. isn't? It makes no logical sense.

    --
    My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
  3. Extrajudicial law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So, what this guy did is not a crime in the UK, but because it is in the US he is being sent to stand trial there. Basically, UK citizens are subject to US law (albeit it can only be selectively applied).

    Something to worry about for everyone in a country that has an extradition treaty with US.

  4. I predict he will be extradited by FeatherBoa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    He will be charged with everything they can think of. Made up stuff, real stuff from jaywalking to treason.

    He will be facing 300 years possible sentence if convicted of even half of it.

    He will be facing a 5 years incarceration just waiting for a trial.

    They will offer a plea deal: plead to being a bad boy and you can go home tomorrow, wear a radio on your ankle for a year and that's it.

    He will do the deal.

    The US will get a conviction, which they will trumpet from the rooftops. They will have a precedent that they covet, and anyone running any similar operation will pretty well have to stop it, lest they meet with a much worse fate.

    The American's, no doubt, believe they are doing this fella a favour, since their first instinct was to scoop him up into a black helicopter, or even just nuke him remotely while he rides his bike to school.

  5. Re:USA! USA! by sjames · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And all was sorta OK until the regulations were relaxed. NOT a coincidence.