It’s Official: Sony Scraps ‘The Interview’

http://deadline.com/2014/12/sony-scraps-...201328639/

In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the
film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the
planned December 25 theatrical release. We respect and understand our partners’
decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety
of employees and theater-goers.

Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against
our employees, our customers, and our business. Those who attacked us stole our
intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material,
and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale – all apparently to thwart the
release of a movie they did not like. We are deeply saddened at this brazen
effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to
our company, our employees, and the American public. We stand by our filmmakers
and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this
outcome.

The attack that began November 24 and continued to unfold nearly daily came to a climax today with Sony cancelling the scheduled December 25 release of The Interview, the film revealed to be the target of the attack by the mysterious Guardians of Peace, that centers on the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jung-Un.


The FBI had no comment on the matter when contacted by Deadline. CNN, CNBC and ABC News all reported that federal investigators will announce as soon as tomorrow it is their assessment that North Korean leaders ordered the attack on Sony. U.S. Rep Ed Royce (R-Calif), a ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said he’s been told the attack had been undertaken “at the behest of a foreign government.” That includes the threat that people going to the Christmas debut of the movie would face a September 11 experience.

[color=rgb(0, 0, 0)][/color][left][color=rgb(0, 0, 0)][size=19px]The U.S. government has determined that North Korea was "centrally involved" in the cyber attack on Sony Pictures. The U.S. penetrated North Korean computer networks to trace the source of the hacking. According to investigators, the primary suspects are members of a North Korean cyber-security unit called "Bureau 121." However, it has not been ruled out that it is an insider at Sony with a grudge that cooperated with an outside group like the North Koreans. The White House is debating whether to publicly accuse North Korea of launching a cyberterrorism campaign against Sony.[/size][/color][/left]

[quote author=Vivekananda link=topic=94608.msg606082#msg606082 date=1418856960]
http://deadline.com/2014/12/sony-scraps-...201328639/

In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the
film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the
planned December 25 theatrical release. We respect and understand our partners’
decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety
of employees and theater-goers.

Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against
our employees, our customers, and our business. Those who attacked us stole our
intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material,
and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale – all apparently to thwart the
release of a movie they did not like. We are deeply saddened at this brazen
effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to
our company, our employees, and the American public. We stand by our filmmakers
and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this
outcome.
[/quote]

What a spineless capitulation to these fascists bullies.  Don't forget the irony that they are free to issue threats of violence but we must curb and restrain that same right because they are "offended". 

It has set a dangerous precedent and watered down even further the rhetoric of "never giving into terrorist demands", which as this case vividly illustrates, is complete nonsense.