Policy

Accused UK TV Pirate Won't Be Extradited to US

Deal made to site that linked to free downloads of movies and other stuff that ticks off the MPAA

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Richard O'Dwyer, the British founder of TVShack, has reached a deal with U.S. authorities to avoid extradition.

The 24-year-old student was at the center of an international drama for linking to free films and TV shows on his website. After a UK judge ordered his extradition in January, the move brought protests amid more general concern over potential copyright laws being debated in the U.S. such as the Stop Online Piracy Act. Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, launched a campaign to stop O'Dwyer's extradition.

The U.S. government charged O'Dwyer with making $230,000 in advertising profits off of his website.