As we reported last week, the first four episodes of this season's Game of Thrones have leaked online.

As part of the promotion for the new series, HBO made the episodes available via DVD to outlets - ourselves included - for review purposes.

That DVD, which was watermarked, was leaked online and has reportedly been downloaded well over one million times since it was first posted.

Unsurprisingly, HBO is furious and vowed retribution against anyone who shares the leaked episodes online.

They're not hiring the Boltons out, mind, but they are threatening legal action.

A number of takedown notices were distributed to ISPs - Internet Service Providers - to begin proceedings against them.

As is standard practice, it's then up to the ISP to provide the IP addresses, names and addresses of whoever downloaded the episodes and forward them to HBO.

A recent court ruling means that UPC, Sky, Eircom and any other ISP in Ireland must provide the names of anyone who's pirated music over to music labels.

It's not known, however, if this ruling applies to TV shows or movies or if international companies are able to look for Irish IP addresses.

This isn't the first time HBO has sent out takedown notices for their shows.

However, with such a significant leak - and before the show was even broadcast - has meant that they're taking further action that what's normal.

 

Via TorrentFreak.com