Photo Credit: Maciej Drążkiewicz
Hybe’s Big Hit isn’t alone in calling on X to disclose the identity of an alleged leaker. Now, HBO is seeking information about an individual who allegedly posted Euphoria spoilers.
With an eye on learning who’s behind the “Lexi Howard’s Cat” account, Warner Bros. Discovery’s HBO just recently moved to subpoena X. And like the X page allegedly responsible for posting snippets of BTS’ Arirang ahead of its official release, Lexi Howard’s Cat, a reference to the namesake Euphoria character, has already been decommissioned.
In other words, there’s more to the subpoena disputes – which, incidentally, have entered the spotlight as X is embroiled in a high-stakes suit with music publishers – than simple DMCA takedown notices.
To be sure, HBO’s initial takedown-request email to X, set in motion by what it described as “spoilers for unaired episodes of our Euphoria TV Series,” arrived back on March 31st. The subpoena demand materialized thereafter, and the show’s third season only premiered this past Sunday.
While the ultimately approved subpoena itself is straightforward enough, in HBO’s own words, it will compel “X Corp. to disclose identifying information for the operators of the user name infringing HBO’s copyrighted works,” including associated names, addresses, telephone numbers, and more.
Time will tell where the subpoena showdown goes from here now that the clerk has signed off on the request; the corresponding order has an April 23rd production deadline.
But on the social platform’s end, the resistance to divulging account owners’ identities – especially post-deactivation – in response to third-party IP claims appears easy enough to explain. A habit of promptly handing over users’ personal details wouldn’t exactly be good for business.
(Side note: A post from one of the since-deleted X accounts behind an Arirang leak seemed to suggest that a major retailer had sent out a pre-ordered physical edition – of which there are many – before the actual release date.)
And for the companies in the opposite corner, it probably goes without saying that preventing leaks at the source is preferable to playing whac-a-mole after the fact. Among other things, Euphoria spoilers (or at least purportedly accurate plot details presented as spoilers) seem to be piling up on platforms besides X.
This leads to an interesting bigger-picture question: Will the HBO-X confrontation evolve into a battle over the status of alleged leaks under the law? More specifically, do they constitute copyright-protected “expressions” of the underlying works or unprotected plot summaries?
As with the subpoena clashes themselves, time will tell. However, spoiler-geared summaries and discussions of forthcoming episodes are alive and well across the internet, and Euphoria diehards, not casual viewers, are powering the talks. Is there a long-term opportunity for networks to step in and simultaneously promote their programs, monetize superfan support, and maintain direct control over discussions?
Perhaps. Speaking of superfan support, Big Hit’s Arirang leak crackdown might extend beyond the above-noted account when all is said and done.
On X, Army diehards are still taking aim at (and making good use of Hybe’s “illegal activities” report portal regarding) different alleged leakers. Several of the relevant accounts look to have been deactivated during the past 24 hours.
“EVERYONE EMAIL BIGHIT ABOUT THESE 2 ACCOUNTS AS WELL,” one Army member exclaimed yesterday, including with the post screenshots of the appropriate profiles. “the first one leaked Arirang & the 2nd one spreaded [sic] it and is quite vile towards the members [of BTS].”
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