HBO has been working hard to keep "Game of Thrones" episodes and spoilers under wraps this season and so far, nothing has really leaked. However, now HBO is going after YouTube members who are posting videos about predictions they have about the show prior to the next episode's premiere.
Spanish YouTuber Frikidoctor posts many videos regarding "Game of Thrones." He uses a combination of insider information from a friend close to the "Game of Thrones" set as well as his own theories to make videos of himself talking about what he predicts will happen in the series' next episode before it premieres. These videos do not violate or infringe upon any copyright laws because he is simply talking in Spanish into a camera about what he thinks will happen next in the show.
However, on Friday, May 6, Frikidoctor uploaded a video that contained his predictions for the third episode of season six that was set to premiere May 8. The video did not contain any "Game of Thrones" audio, video or material of any kind besides Frikidoctor speaking and his own introduction sequence. Just two hours later, HBO used YouTube's copyright system to claim copyright infringement and had the video removed.
Frikidoctor uploaded another video to YouTube on May 7 to let his fans know what had happened to his previous video.
HBO then reinstated the video on Monday, May 9, after the episode had premiered.
Essentially, HBO abused copyright law in order to remove content that was inconvenient for them in order to prevent any sort of spoilers before the episode premiered. This creates a clear issue because this means that HBO can exploit the copyright system for its own gain simply to hinder any type of discussion about the show that might contain accurate guesses or theories about the plot. Where do they draw the line then?
“So, they think that me dressed as a Mexican wrestler talking about predictions for episode three of 'Game of Thrones' is their property," Frikidoctor said in his video. "That it’s copyrighted material that belongs to them."
Frikidoctor states in his video that he hired a lawyer because he doesn't think "freedom of speech has been respected" in his case, but he is unsure if it is worth it to go to court over this incident.
For the time being, Frikidoctor states that he will not be posting anymore prediction videos until things settle down.
HBO has yet to comment.
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