SONY Lawyer Warns Sites To Delete Stolen Data
As new information continues to be released from the Sony hack many sites have taken to reporting the data which includes Marvel Studios and Sony negotiations. Now a letter from Sony warns news sites to delete the stolen data.
The security breach and data dump of Sony data has made publi documents such as film budgets, earnings statements and even emails from top Sony executives. Information contained within those leaked documents included discussions between Sony and Marvel Studios about incorporating Spider-Man within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Now after many sites have begun reporting on the leaked information, Sony lawyers have sent out letters telling news sites what to do with this information. The letter from attorney David Boies says that media companies should avoid the information, and delete the data if they’ve downloaded “stolen information.”
"We are writing to ensure that you are aware that SPE does not consent to your possession, review copying, dissemination, publication, uploading, downloading or making any use of the stolen information, and to request your cooperation in destroying the stolen information,"
The MPAA has also broken its silence providing the statement below.
“Obviously this is a very difficult time for Sony. Sony is not just a valued member of our association family, but they are friends and colleagues and we feel for them personally. From the highest levels of our organization working with the highest levels of theirs, we are doing anything and everything that Sony believes could be helpful and will continue to do so.”
It should be noted that there is legal precedent for using stolen materials for newsgathering purposes, in 2001 the Supreme Court ruled in Bartnicki vs. Vopper that a radio station could not be held liable for broadcasting an illegally recorded conversation because the station was a third party and not the one committing an illegal act.