'Star Wars' Leak Prompts Disney to Seek Subpoena

An image of the hooded figure with the unique lightsaber from the teaser

By Eriq Gardner

Disney has unleashed its first weapon over a possible leak of images from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. On Friday, the studio’s Lucasfilm division requested that a California federal judge issue a subpoena to identify alleged copyright infringers of the film.

The subpoena is directed to ImageShack, a website hosting a screenshot of what appears to be a Sith lord from the film set to be released in December. The pictured character wears a dark hood and a mask and is waving a red broadsword lightsaber that’s of the same ilk seen in the movie’s trailer. It was posted by a user named “Darth_Simi.”

Watch the teaser for The Force Awakens:

In a declaration to support the issuance of a subpoena, a Disney employee confirms the image relates to Episode VII, now officially known as The Force Awakens, and that ImageShack was sent a takedown notice pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Related: Tatiana Maslany, Rooney Mara Testing for ‘Star Wars’ Stand-alone Movie (Exclusive)

As of publishing, the image remains up, viewed just over 6,000 times. [Yahoo editor’s update: The image has apparently been taken down.]

This isn’t the first time that a Disney entity is attempting to use the force of subpoena to take a crack at leakers. In November, Marvel had one issued to Google over posted material from Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Image credit: Disney