'Game Of Thrones' Season 5 Disrupted By Leaks

RTR4UKKP (640x411) — IN PHOTO : Co-executive producer George R.R. Martin arrives for the season premiere of HBO's "Game of Thrones" in San Francisco, California March 23, 2015. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith

The first four episodes of the new "Game of Thrones" season were leaked online on April 11, a day before the official premiere. The leaked episodes have been downloaded more than 100,000 times in just a few hours.

"Sadly, it seems the leaked four episodes of the upcoming season of "Game of Thrones" originated from within a group approved by HBO to receive them." HBO said in a statement. The statement also added that the network were looking at how the leaks might have occurred.

While it came unexpected, many "Game of Thrones" fans have already spotted the early leak. According to the Wall Street Journal, in the first three hours the episodes were downloaded more than 100,000 times and this number is expected to increase to more than a million.

The episodes that were posted online thus far are in standard-definition (SD) quality. However many Twitter users commented that they would rather wait until HD copies become available, as they are used to watching the show in a better resolution. (Read tweets below.)

Over the past three years, "Game of Thrones" has been the most pirated TV show. Based on the number of leaks, this will be no different in 2015. The leaks come after HBO launched its long-awaited standalone streaming service on April 8.

According to Techhive, the app called HBO Now, brings the network's contents to people without traditional cable or satellite TV subscriptions. The network also premiered the show simultaneously in 170 countries to prevent piracy.

Other networks have also endured similar problems. In 2013, Netflix introduced a Twitter app that would hide "Breaking Bad" spoiler-tweets from a tweeter's feed. Google has a wider reaching spoiler patent on its horizon, according to Mashable. In 2012, Google took out a patent to stop spoilers from reaching the screens of those who are mid-way through reading a book or viewing a television show or movie – so long as they are viewed through Google.

Game of Thrones, don't you come over here with your first four leaked episodes and try ruin my dissertation
— Joel Slinn (@Joell8394) April 12, 2015

Oh dear, just read episodes 1-4 of new series of game of thrones have been leaked....to watch or wait, hardest decision of my life so far!
— Harry Morris (@HarryMorriss) April 12, 2015