Samsung is the next tech giant to chase after prominent leakers

Apple isn’t the only tech heavyweight taking down major leakers.  As Reddit users have noted, AllAboutSamsung‘s Max Jambor warned that Samsung is using copyright claims to take down images and videos from leak providers.

Some of the images will disappear within days, Jambor said, and this was reportedly “just the beginning.” Well-known leak sharer Evan Blass suggested he would delete posts for Samsung material. The author stressed that Samsung was only chasing after the original purveyors, not media outlets reporting on those leaks. You won’t see Android Authority‘s Samsung leak coverage suddenly vanish, then.

Read more: The best Samsung phones

We’ve asked Samsung for comment.

Xiaomi has also clamped down on leaks in recent days.

Moves like this aren’t surprising. Leaks are usually breaches of company confidentiality. By definition, accurate leakers are sharing material without permission. And while it’s tempting to claim that Samsung benefits whenever a leak emerges, it might argue that they steal the thunder from events and even dampen sales. You might already have a good idea of what to expect at Samsung’s next Unpacked event, for example — why tune in if you won’t be surprised?

Whether or not the Samsung leak crackdown has much of an effect in practice might be another matter. Leaks tend to spread quickly, after all, and it might not take long to disseminate spy photos and press shots while deleting the source posts. This also won’t do much to stop text-based leaks. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t be shocked if Samsung product launches offer more surprises going forward.