Latest Round of Cyber Breach Targets HBO Shows to Leak Unreleased Episodes
PR Newswire
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 9, 2017, RIHT,
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Cecil Bond Kyte, CEO of Rightscorp (OTCQB: RIHT), a leading provider of data analytics and litigation services, as well as copyright infringement protection services to support artists and owners of copyrighted property, provided a response to the latest piracy shakedown in Hollywood entertainment, in which hackers have threatened to distribute unreleased episodes of Season 7 of HBO’s Game of Thrones.
According to Entertainment Weekly, hackers claimed to have obtained 1.5 terabytes of data from the company. HBO is currently investigating the incident and working with law enforcement and outside cybersecurity firms and, in a confirmed statement by the network, stated, “Data protection is a top priority at HBO, and we take seriously our responsibility to protect the data we hold.”
Rightscorp CEO Cecil Bond Kyte commented, “This is merely the latest example of how rampant piracy affects the media industry and threatens its future. Rightscorp has been on the forefront of assisting copyright creators and owners to protect their proprietary content. More importantly, a key to safeguarding digital assets is to hold ISPs accountable to enforce policies to terminate the accounts of subscribers who repeatedly infringe copyrights.”
In February 2017, BMG Rights Management was awarded a total of $33.5 million in copyright damages and legal fees in a lawsuit over music downloading. Although Rightscorp was not a party in the case, the Company was instrumental in issuing massive DMCA takedown notices to Cox Communications, which were ignored.
Game of Thrones is the most-watched series in HBO history, with its latest, season 7, bringing in a record 16.1 million viewers, according to CNN. TorrentFreak has also reported that the show has taken the crown for the fifth year as being the most pirated TV show of 2016.
Other recent events include the release of unreleased episodes from season 5 of Orange Is the New Black ahead of its summer return in April 2017 and Sony in 2014, when approximately 100 terabytes of data was uploaded online, making it the biggest Hollywood hack in history.
About Rightscorp, Inc.
Rightscorp (RIHT) is a leading provider of data and analytic services to support artists and owners of copyrighted Intellectual Property (IP). The Company’s patent pending digital loss prevention technology focuses on the infringement of rights to digital content such as music, movies, software, books and games and ensures that the rights of owners and creators are protected. Rightscorp works closely with its clients to develop programs of education and notice, and as necessary to pursue copyright infringers for their illegal file sharing activities via notifications sent through Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The Company’s technology identifies copyright infringers, who are provided information about copyrights and the importance of Intellectual Property and offered a reasonable opportunity to terminate their activities and pay a nominal settlement option that is generally a fraction of the statutory minimum in an effort to avoid the need for expensive litigation. With minimum statutory penalties of $750 and up to $150,000 per infringement, Rightscorp’s technology and process of notice allows all parties to efficiently and economically address copyright infringement without the costs and burdens of litigation. Based on the fact that 22% of all Internet traffic is used to distribute copyrighted content without permission or compensation to the creators, Rightscorp’s technology and process provides one of the best and most cost efficient means of addressing this issue for both the artists and those who have infringed their works.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release may include forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s anticipated financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management of the Company for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company’s management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors not limited to, general economic and business conditions, competitive factors, changes in business strategy or development plans, the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, and changes in legal and regulatory requirements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity of the Company. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this paragraph.
