IF YOU are a pirate who thinks you are safe because you’re downloading old films instead of the latest Hollywood blockbuster, you are sadly mistaken.

Paramount Pictures has joined the legion of other Hollywood studios trying to put an end to online piracy, which is viewed as a major threat to revenues.

However, it’s not Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, 10 Cloverfield Lane or any other new releases the studio has in its scope; it’s the 1972 classic The Godfather.

Why it is targeting a 44-year-old film is unclear, but the movie studio isn’t fooling around.

Paramount has joined forces with anti-piracy partner IP-Echelon to go after internet subscribers responsible for downloading and sharing the film.As part of the plan, the Hollywood studio is requesting ISPs “disable” the copyright infringements to ensure pirates stop sharing the film.

“We are requesting your immediate assistance in removing and disabling access to the infringing material from your network.
We also ask that you ensure the user and/or IP address owner refrains from future use and sharing of Paramount materials and property,” the letter reads,

Furthermore, Paramount strongly advises the ISP not to destroy any data such as IP-address logs as this data may be called upon if a lawsuit is filed at a later stage.

“In complying with this notice, [ISP] should not destroy any evidence, which may be relevant in a lawsuit, relating to the infringement alleged, including all associated electronic documents and data relating to the presence of infringing items on your network, which shall be preserved while disabling public access, irrespective of any document retention or corporate policy to the contrary.”

While not explaining its motives, the move is likely just a scare campaign to ruffle the feathers of illegal downloaders.
Paramount doesn’t have a record of filing cases against individual file-sharers — although this could change.

The news comes as HBO also teamed up with anti-piracy partner IP Echelon to take a proactive approach to stop people from downloading Game of Thrones.

As part of the plan, HBO has sent letters to ISPs asking them to warn customers they have been flagged for piracy infringements.