HBO has allegedly issued copyright violation notifications to thousands of individuals suspected of illegally downloading episodes of Game of Thrones (GoT). To combat the numerous torrents from GoT Season Six, HBO has also taken down hundreds of popular links from sites like KickassTorrents and Torrentz.
The warnings, sent via email by the Australian anti-piracy firm IP Echelon, are being dispatched to US internet service providers (ISPs) and include specific IP addresses believed to have been used for unauthorized downloading or sharing of Game of Thrones.
These emails urge ISPs to notify the IP owners about the illegal activities and the potential security threats that accompany online piracy. They also request that ISPs take necessary actions to prevent further unauthorized downloads or sharing and encourage alleged BitTorrent users to subscribe to HBO’s official streaming service for access to Game of Thrones content. One email states, “We also encourage you to inform the subscriber that HBO programming can be easily watched and streamed legally on various devices by adding HBO to their television package,” as reported by TorrentFreak.
The series, known for its intense content, has a notable history of illegal downloads, having set multiple piracy records during the release of Season Five in 2015. In an effort to curb piracy during its current season, TorrentFreak reports that torrent and magnet links for the two aired episodes of Season Six are being swiftly removed from KickassTorrents. The torrent search engine Torrentz shows that at least 100 search results for “Game of Thrones” have been deleted following DMCA takedown notices.
HBO faces a significant challenge as it strives not only to combat piracy but also to manage spoilers for a show infamous for unexpectedly killing off key characters. The YouTube channel Spanish Spoiler has received copyright claims from HBO for making remarkably accurate predictions about GoT storylines ahead of time, potentially due to insider information leaks.
For UK viewers wishing to legally catch up on the latest developments in the series, Game of Thrones is exclusively available on Sky Atlantic, with the latest episode titled Oathbreaker scheduled to air at 2 am on May 9.
