BitTorrent to the Rescue: Case Study on the Sony Hacking Scandal

http://deadline.com/2014/12/bittorrent-offers-to-distribute-the-interview-sony-attack-1201331011/
Yamato, J. (2014, December 19). BitTorrent To Sony: Let Us Distribute 'The Interview' Retrieved January 12, 2015, from http://deadline.com/2014/12/bittorrent-offers-to-distribute-the-interview-sony-attack-1201331011/

Deadline.com is a hub of information regarding all things Hollywood, in particularly the film industry that garners a large amount of media attention.  Everything from motion pictures to television, awards to film business, box office information, videos, and even international breaking news regarding entertainment, this site has it all!  In this particular article from Deadline.com titled, "BitTorrent to Sony: Let us Distribute 'The Interview,'" the unlikely potential partnership between Sony and BitTorrent Distribution is discussed.  In the wake of North Korea's hacking scandal on Sony's prematurely released blockbuster, "The Interview," the huge media conglomerate doesn't have a sufficient means of distributing without piracy sites gaining control over the movie.  Fortunately for Sony, relatively new and innovative company "BitTorrent" isn't afraid to get hands on this controversial film and distribute it in the safest way, while allowing both companies to profit off this satisfactory deal. 

Quotes and Explanations:

1. “We have reached out (to Sony) on a number of fronts,” ... “It seems like no one else wants to touch this, but for us this about the two things we care about most: an open Internet and a sustainable future for creativity. This is bigger than this film at this point. As a company, we feel we have no choice but to help Sony Pictures and defend these principles.” --BitTorrent Chief Content Officer Matt Mason
• While many modern distribution technologies, such as Netflix and vimeo, are refusing to go near a film as controversial as "The Interview," BitTorrent embraces the challenge.  The plight that Sony underwent in this hacking terrorist scandal, caused by the politically incorrect plot content of the film, is just what BitTorrent claims to combat.  The principle of the BitTorrent enterprise lies in  a decentralized, uncensored internet where both producers and consumers of media mutually interact and benefit from these new technological connections.  Creators of BitTorrent picture a distribution industry where people are free to create what they want, without fearing whether it may be released or not, and what this distribution of content will lead to.
2. "Though we normally would not offer commentary during such a trying time for another company, the answer is yes. BitTorrent Bundle is in fact the very best way for Sony to take back control of their film, to not acquiesce to terrorists threats, and to ensure a wide audience can view the film safely. It would also strike a strong note for free speech."--BitTorrent director of communications Christian Averil
• There is a bigger dilemma that is inherent within the recent hacking scandal that took place. As a dominant American distribution company succumbs to threats posed by a terrorist group, based on the film's controversial content, freedom of speech is threatened.  While Sony set a precedent nationwide by giving in to terrorist groups and not releasing the film, the actions of Sony as a business were understandable.  Regardless, BitTorrent is the most beneficial way for "The Interview" to be distributed without putting the lives of producers and distributors at risk.  Not only does BitTorrent encourage safety and profit for the parties involved, but it solidifies the right of free speech that was put into question during these recent events.
3. "We disagree, however, with some that have suggested that Sony should make the film available through piracy sites. That would only serve to encourage bad actors. It’s also important to make the distinction that these piracy sites are not “torrent sites.” They are piracy sites that are wrongfully exploiting torrent technology."--Christian Averil
• In this quote, director of communications for BitTorrent attempts to define the major differences between BitTorrent and common piracy sites.  Although piracy sites take advantage of torrent technology, the two types of distribution are in no way related.  BitTorrent stems from pure motives in fostering the spread of media content in a way that benefits both producer and consumer, while piracy sites attempt to take home the profit for other people's work. 

So what is it about "The Interview" that generated so much controversy?...

To Keep It Simple...

Seth Rogen and James Franco's newest film, "The Interview", is a raucous comedy surrounding a TV personality as he is ordered by the American CIA to "take out" the North Korean dictator (Kim Jong Un) during a televised interview.  Although the uproariously funny dynamic stoner duo did not expect such an extreme backlash from the inhabitants of North Korea, the hilarious yet controversial subject matter in the film incited one of the biggest hacking scandals in film history.  Sony distribution company, which was set to release the film on Christmas day, was hacked by a terrorist group which threatened violence upon the film's upcoming release.  In the aftermath of these unexpected events, Sony decided to pull the release of the much anticipated film, and many theaters agreed with this decision.  Unfortunately for Sony and the parties involved in the production of the film, however, the movie was still able to be viewed through many piracy sites and other illegal forms of distribution which can hardly be stopped on the decentralized web.

Many distribution sites and programs, such as Netflix, vimeo, hulu, and Amazon Prime, refused to go near "The Interview" in the wake of these scandalous events.  However, there is a chance that BitTorrent may come to the rescue and save Sony in the distribution of their prematurely released film.  BitTorrent is excited and eager to work with sony in distributing "The Interview", by generating profit for the company which lost a good amount of revenue due to terrorist threats.  More importantly, BitTorrent executives believe that by releasing "The Interview" using BitTorrent software, they will be standing up for freedom of speech.  Many reports show that Sony is hesitant to work with BitTorrent, a company that has often been associated with forms of piracy.  Even so, it seems like BitTorrent is attempting to save Sony from the threats that piracy and terrorism impose on the film industry, especially by upholding the right to release content that, although controversial, is in no way dangerous or threatening.

                                       Here's what Obama has to say about the whole brouhaha...

In a recent press conference, President Obama was noted for describing the entire movie as "a mistake."  However, one can only wonder why other films that were equally politically incorrect did not receive this kind of backlash from the government.  Films such as "Tropic Thunder", "Don't Mess with the Zohan", "The Love Guru", and particularly "Borat" contained cultural implications that had just as much likelihood of receiving terrorist threats upon release.  Was Barack Obama's opinion on "The Interview" merely based on public exposure?...In other words, is this preference toward censorship based on what the American public wants and expects or, on the contrary, acquiescing to the demands of terrorist groups in foreign nations? How much should we allow the preferences of the public to affect media, and what does this kind of censorship reveal about the film industry in general?