SAN FRANCISCO,
Google
and Microsoft joined forces with Sony on Wednesday, using their online
might to release "The Interview" film to online audiences despite
threats from hackers.
"Of course it
was tempting to hope that something else would happen to ensure this
movie saw the light of day," Google chief legal officer David Drummond
said in a blog post.
"But after
discussing all the issues, Sony and Google agreed that we could not sit
on the sidelines and allow a handful of people to determine the limits
of free speech in another country — however silly the content might be."
The
Japanese entertainment giant began contacting Google and other
companies a week ago to pursue potential for "The Interview" to be made
available for streaming to viewers on the Internet, according to
Drummond.
"A cyber-attack on anyone's
rights is a cyber-attack on everyone's rights, and together we need to
defend against it," Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith said in a blog
post.
ESSENTIAL RELEASE
"After
substantial thought, we decided to stand up with Sony and work with
others to ensure that freedom of expression triumphs over
cyber-terrorism."
Using their
platforms as online stages for the film is expected to make Google and
Microsoft targets for hackers who hit Sony's film unit with a
devastating cyber attack.
Late
Wednesday morning in California, "The Interview" became available for
rent in high-definition streaming at Google Play, YouTube Movies,
Microsoft's Xbox Video service and at a dedicated seetheinterview.com
website for a price of Sh540 ($5.99).
Digital copies of the film could be purchased for Sh1300 ($14).
"It
was essential for our studio to release this movie, especially given
the assault upon our business and our employees by those who wanted to
stop free speech," Sony Entertainment chief executive Michael Lynton
said in a release.
"I want to thank Google and Microsoft for helping make this a reality."
"The Interview" outraged North Korea by lampooning dictator Kim Jong-Un.
The
madcap comedy became available for rent in the United States from 1800
GMT on several platforms, one day before its December 25 limited
theatrical release.
The future of the
film had been in doubt after Sony said last week that it was canceling
the release following a hacking attack on its corporate network and
threats against moviegoers.
The US
government blamed the attack on North Korea, reportedly angry at the
film's cartoonish portrayal of Kim's communist regime, and President
Barack Obama threatened reprisals.
No comments :
Post a Comment