'Game of Thrones' Season 5 Episodes Online Leak: HBO Slams Twitter's Periscope App for Copyright Violation

It looks like pirates are not the only ones scheming to get their hands on the latest episodes of "Game of Thrones." Users of a Twitter-owned app want a piece of the show as well.

HBO has already sent Twitter "take down" notices after its live-streaming app shared its fantasy drama series, ABCNews reported on Tuesday.

After its most-awaited fifth season finally premiered on Sunday, some users of Twitter's Periscope shared among themselves HBO's hit TV show. Periscope allows video-streaming from their user's app to their Twitter followers.

Subtly chiding Twitter, HBO said in a statement that app developers should be ready to prevent incidents of copyright infringement.

"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," the HBO statement said.

HBO also said developers should not only depend on "take down" notices after incidents of infringement occur.

Twitter, which bought Periscope only recently, said the app will follow valid take-down requests as it complies with U.S. copyright law.

Under Periscope's copyright policy posted online, app users are expected to respect intellectual property rights. Those claiming copyright infringement are asked to contact Periscope with details and proof.

The app also reserves the right to remove such content without prior notice and to delete the account of the user who is a "repeat infringer."

HBO and Twitter had no further comment on the matter.

The four unaired "Game of Thrones" episodes leaked online came from within a group authorized to receive preview DVDs, HBO said on Monday.

The leak of the episodes did not seem to have affected the series' ratings. Reports show that almost eight million viewers watched the show's premiere, the best start for the show. HBO has yet to release the official figures.

The series is based on George R.R. Martin's bestselling novel series "A Song of Ice and Fire."