Well they said “how do you say copyright infringement in Dothraki” not me…so either they were entirely joking or they were subtly saying cease and desist. Additionally, the copyright (assuming they were in any measure serious) doesn’t have to be about the photo of him. They may own the font type used, or perhaps the phrased of “X is coming” in that manner and could lay a claim to it.
The point here is that in the case of any political use of materials or song…unless there is clear cut “Fair use” or “express permission” then the authoring artist always has the legal leg to stand on and say “Don’t use that”.
I certainly don’t know the details anymore than you do. I just would be happy if HBO had any part in making Nostradumbass’ life even the tiniest more difficult is all.
