united-states copyright
Can Twitter demand from GitHub information about users who downloaded leaked source code?
<p>Parts of Twitter source codes were leaked and published on GitHub. <a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67091763/twitter-inc-v-github-inc/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Twitter asked court</a> to issue subpoena to compel GitHub to reveal &quot;all identifying information&quot; of the user who published it. However, Twitter also asked for &quot;all identifying information, ... , for the users who posted, uploaded, <strong>downloaded</strong> or modified the data&quot;. The court granted their request and issued the subpoena.</p>
<p>On what legal grounds can Twitter demand information about users who just downloaded it?</p>

<p>The legal ground is to identify infringers of their copyright. Copyright law prohibits unauthorized copying, and Twitter alleges that there was unauthorized copying, which included downloading. They have a legal right to file legal actions against any and all infringers, and the subpoena process is a means of determining the true identity of the alleged infringers (since real identities are needed to sue them).</p>
