It's ridiculous the US even have the right to try and prosecute him. Plus, even if he was a US citizen.. ten years in prison for allowing people to watch a film they can't afford to buy? When people that carry weapons and can actually cause damage get 5 years.. Really? It's so messed up
Petition Closed
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- Petitioned Nick Clegg MP
This petition was delivered to:
Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats
Nick Clegg MP
Prime Minister, UK
David Cameron
Home Secretary, UK
Theresa May
.@ukhomeoffice: Stop the extradition of Richard O'Dwyer to the USA #SaveRichard
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Richard O'Dwyer is a 24 year old British student at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK. He is facing extradition to the USA and up to ten years in prison, for creating a website – TVShack.net – which linked (similar to a search-engine) to places to watch TV and movies online.
O'Dwyer is not a US citizen, he's lived in the UK all his life, his site was not hosted there, and most of his users were not from the US. America is trying to prosecute a UK citizen for an alleged crime which took place on UK soil.
The internet as a whole must not tolerate censorship in response to mere allegations of copyright infringement. As citizens we must stand up for our rights online.
When operating his site, Richard O'Dwyer always did his best to play by the rules: on the few occasions he received requests to remove content from copyright holders, he complied. His site hosted links, not copyrighted content, and these were submitted by users.
Copyright is an important institution, serving a beneficial moral and economic purpose. But that does not mean that copyright can or should be unlimited. It does not mean that we should abandon time-honoured moral and legal principles to allow endless encroachments on our civil liberties in the interests of the moguls of Hollywood.
Richard O'Dwyer is the human face of the battle between the content industry and the interests of the general public. Earlier this year, in the fight against the anti-copyright bills SOPA and PIPA, the public won its first big victory. This could be our second.
This is why I am petitioning the UK's Home Secretary Theresa May to stop the extradition of Richard O'Dwyer. I hope you will join me.
- Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia founder
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Read more:
Jimmy Wales: Richard O'Dwyer and the new internet war: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/24/richard-o-dwyer-my-petition
Richard O'Dwyer: living with the threat of extradition: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/24/richard-odwyer-extradition-threat-tvshack-net
Video interview with Richard O'Dwyer: http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/video/2012/jun/25/richard-o-dwyer-extradition-copyright-infringement-video
Chip in to donate to Richard's fighting fund here: http://www.gofundme.com/1bo8vo
To:
Nick Clegg MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats
David Cameron, Prime Minister, UK
Theresa May, Home Secretary, UK
Nick Clegg MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats
David Cameron, Prime Minister, UK
Theresa May, Home Secretary, UK
I am writing to you to stop the extradition of British citizen, Richard O'Dwyer to the USA.
I’m concerned about this case because O'Dwyer is not a US citizen, his site (TVShack.net) was not hosted there, and most of his users were not from the US. I don’t understand why America is trying to prosecute a UK citizen for an alleged crime which took place on UK soil. If there was a crime it should be...
I’m concerned about this case because O'Dwyer is not a US citizen, his site (TVShack.net) was not hosted there, and most of his users were not from the US. I don’t understand why America is trying to prosecute a UK citizen for an alleged crime which took place on UK soil. If there was a crime it should be...
I am writing to you to stop the extradition of British citizen, Richard O'Dwyer to the USA.
I’m concerned about this case because O'Dwyer is not a US citizen, his site (TVShack.net) was not hosted there, and most of his users were not from the US. I don’t understand why America is trying to prosecute a UK citizen for an alleged crime which took place on UK soil. If there was a crime it should be investigated and tried here in the UK, not in the US.
When operating his site, Richard O'Dwyer was careful to always try and play by the rules: on the few occasions he received takedown notices, he complied. His site hosted links, like a search-engine does, not copyrighted content, and these were submitted by users. Both of these are protected in the USA.
Copyright is an important institution, serving a beneficial moral and economic purpose. But that does not mean that copyright can or should be unlimited. It does not mean that we should abandon time honored moral and legal principles to allow endless encroachments on our civil liberties in the interests of the moguls of Hollywood.
I’m aware that both parties in the coalition government criticised the unfair extradition treaty when in opposition, and more recently David Cameron and Theresa May have spoken of the need to review it.
But for Richard there’s no time for a lengthy review. The USA is pushing hard to extradite him now. So please, for Richard and his family stop this extradition.
Sincerely,
I’m concerned about this case because O'Dwyer is not a US citizen, his site (TVShack.net) was not hosted there, and most of his users were not from the US. I don’t understand why America is trying to prosecute a UK citizen for an alleged crime which took place on UK soil. If there was a crime it should be investigated and tried here in the UK, not in the US.
When operating his site, Richard O'Dwyer was careful to always try and play by the rules: on the few occasions he received takedown notices, he complied. His site hosted links, like a search-engine does, not copyrighted content, and these were submitted by users. Both of these are protected in the USA.
Copyright is an important institution, serving a beneficial moral and economic purpose. But that does not mean that copyright can or should be unlimited. It does not mean that we should abandon time honored moral and legal principles to allow endless encroachments on our civil liberties in the interests of the moguls of Hollywood.
I’m aware that both parties in the coalition government criticised the unfair extradition treaty when in opposition, and more recently David Cameron and Theresa May have spoken of the need to review it.
But for Richard there’s no time for a lengthy review. The USA is pushing hard to extradite him now. So please, for Richard and his family stop this extradition.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
[Your name]
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estelle pompili ESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM
- 11 months ago
- Liked 0
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ruby grimes GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM
- about 1 year ago
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It's fundamentally wrong
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Scott Davis EDGMONT, PA
- over 1 year ago
- Liked 0
Petition closed....because....?
What was the outcome?
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Dan Stephenson PARTRIDGE GREEN, UNITED KINGDOM
- almost 2 years ago
- Liked 0
I believe that the movie industry has ignored a revolution in media, and chosen instead to target those who sought to innovate and cater for missing services not provided by greedy corporations
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James Pacileo LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
- almost 2 years ago
- Liked 0
It's not fair to go after the weak and vulnerable.
REPORT THIS COMMENT:
1. He has committed no crime under UK law
2. He does not seem to have committed one under US law either - but big money companies want to make an example of him.
3. It illustrates (again!) the one sided nature of our extradition arrangements with the US
There was nothing on Richard's site that could not be found on Google, Bing or Yahoo so lets see the CEO's of those companies on trial before they pick on a UK student.
This is not only a matter of British national importance but of global importance too. We so appreciate Jimmy Wales launching this petition in support of Richard, to have such support and endorsement from such a knowledgeable and respected figure is fantastic. I hope many will follow Jimmy's lead!
To submit a UK citizen to the vicissitudes of the so called (draconian and profit-based) judicial system of the USA for an ALLEGED crime that took place on UK soil - is morally wrong. That same system would never allow a US citizen to be extradited to the USA.
To extradite Mr O'Dwyer makes a mockery of the UK justice system and is tacit acceptance of US interests taking priority over the interests and judicial system of the UK .
Theresa Mays decision is cowardly, immoral, a deep affront to natural justice.