The subpoena, which was filed by a judge in California on January 18, could spark a heavyweight media collision between 20th Century Fox and Google, which acquired social media site YouTube for $1.65bn last year. It was also issued to lesser-known video-sharing site LiveDigital.
Google said in October it would not tolerate further copyright breaches on YouTube, which contains thousands of clips of TV shows and music videos that have been illegally uploaded on to the site.
However, it is not yet known whether Google has responded to 20th Century Fox's subpoena, which also covers 10 episodes of 'The Simpson's'.
The new episodes of '24', which stars Kiefer Sutherland and Elisha Cuthbert, appeared on YouTube on January 8, six days prior to its official January 14 premiere on News Corp-owned broadcaster Fox.
Jane Sunderland, vice-president of content protection at Fox, has described the illegally uploaded '24' episodes as causing "irreparable harm" to the company, adding that the series was one of the most anticipated programmes of 2007.
It remains unclear how episodes of '24' leaked their way on to YouTube, but the unnamed user, who has the pseudonym "ECOtotal" has had their account suspended pending further investigation.
It is not the first time illegally uploaded movie and TV material has appeared on YouTube; last May the site co-operated with Paramount Pictures to remove a clip of 9/11 drama 'Twin Towers'.
'24' has been a hit drama for 20th Century Fox since debuting in 2001. The hero is Jack Bauer, a CIA agent played by Sutherland, who uncovers terrorist and assassination plots.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
_1.jpg)
.jpg)
