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Rob WaughTwitter Under Fire As Fans Use Its Periscope App to Broadcast Game of Thrones Free
Maker HBO is not amused
Game of Thrones maker HBO has sent ‘takedown’ notices to Twitter, after its new Periscope app was used for illegal broadcasts of hit fantasy series Game of Thrones.
The app, which works using a Twitter account, lets users broadcast a live video feed instantly.
HBO says that users were pointing cameras at their TV screens and illegally ‘broadcasting’ Game of Thrones as the first episode of Season 5 premiered.
The controversy has sparked fears that Twitter’s new, free service, which works via an iPhone or iPad app, could be widely used for piracy.
When users begin a broadcast they can tweet a link so followers can watch via PC or smartphone.
The new series of Game of Thrones is only available to Sky subscribers in the UK, or via Sky’s Now TV service.
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'We are aware of Periscope and have sent takedown notices,' an HBO spokesperson said in a statement.
'In general, we feel developers should have tools which proactively prevent mass copyright infringement from occurring on their apps and not be solely reliant upon notifications.'
As with services such as YouTube, Periscope’s developers will remove copyrighted material - but only in response to a notice from the copyright holder.
This means, in theory, that copyrighted material could be freely available for some time before owners notify Periscope and the developers respond.
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Periscope has made headlines around the world since its launch last month - and people are already using it to broadcast live events such as concerts, news videos and even details of ordinary lives, such as amazing sunrises.
Though live streaming apps are not a new phenomenon, the advance of technology – including the number of smartphones in use and the improvement of data networks – means video can be delivered better than ever.
