Net pirate student escapes extradition

 
Paul Cheston28 November 2012
WEST END FINAL

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A Student who created a website that helped people watch films and TV shows free has reached an agreement to avoid extradition to the US over copyright infringement allegations, the High Court was told today.

Sheffield Hallam University undergraduate Richard O’Dwyer, 24, was facing extradition and a potential jail term after allegedly earning thousands of pounds through advertising on the TVShack site before it was closed down by the US authorities.

The High Court was told he has signed a draft agreement that involves him travelling to the US and paying compensation, but avoiding a trial and criminal record if found guilty.

Edward Fitzgerald QC, for O’Dwyer, told the court he intended to honour the “deferred prosecution agreement”. This means O’Dwyer’s pending application to challenge US moves to extradite him are no longer necessary. His extradition application is expected to return to the High Court in 15 days so it can be formally disposed of.

O’Dwyer’s lawyers argued he would effectively become a “guinea pig” for copyright law in the US.

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