Marvel wants to know the identity of the person who recently leaked the trailer for the upcoming Avengers sequel, Age of Ultron , and they have taken Google to court over the incident.
On Tuesday, Marvel filed a subpoena against Google in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, alleging that a person identified as “John Gazelle” used a Google Drive account to post the Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer. Though Marvel previously sent a takedown request to Google, the company now wants to know the IP address of the leaker, as well as the YouTube and Google+ accounts associated with the name as CNET reports.
Marvel Is Hunting Whoever Leaked The ‘Avengers’ Trailer http://t.co/u4UHpQg3XA Kevin P. Sullivan #MoM pic.twitter.com/kApTUXXBBU
— MoM Mastering (@MoM_Mastering) November 6, 2014
The highly anticipated trailer leaked online on October 22nd as the Inquisitr previously noted. Marvel had planned to release the trailer during the following week’s episode of Agents of Shield , hoping to boost ratings that have been lackluster since the second season kicked off on September 23rd. Though Marvel quickly released the official version of the Avengers trailer, the damage had already been done.
Marvel goes to battle with Google to find out who leaked the Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer http://t.co/iP63DF7CkN pic.twitter.com/t2C0JAwdHC
— Digital Spy (@digitalspy) November 7, 2014
As Deadline notes, while Marvel’s desire to identify the leaker comes as little surprise, the swiftness with which the court granted the company’s request for a subpoena is unusual. The subpoena was issued on November 5th, the day after Marvel requested it, and instructs Google to produce all identifying information for “John Gazelle” in court. Judge Richard Wieking did not grant all of Marvel’s requests, however, as the company sought access to Google’s physical premises as well.
Jon Favreau Weighs In On AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON Trailer Leak And Joss Whedon’s Direction http://t.co/ZQ216pH3m7 pic.twitter.com/Oz4y5RQTMB — Rochi Shion (@Marvel_Freshman) November 1, 2014
Due to arrive in theaters in May of 2015, Avengers: Age of Ultron is the highly anticipated sequel to the hit 2012 The Avengers movie. Directed by Joss Whedon, it brings together the main cast of the first Avengers film, while adding several characters new to the film franchise, but well known to Marvel comic book fans. The Avengers will face off against Ultron, a sentient robot who views humanity as an imperfect species and seeks to wipe out mankind.
Now that Marvel’s subpoena has been granted, Google must appear in court on November 18, disclosing all of their information pertaining to the individual who leaked the Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer.
[Image: Marvel via Hypable ]
