Google: We Will Show Sony's Silly Movie Because 'A Handful Of People Can't Determine The Limits Of Free Speech'

Google says Sony first reached out last Wednesday, and it was tempting to hope someone else would volunteer to run the controversial comedy flick. Ultimately Google decided it "could not sit on the sidelines and allow a handful of people to determine the limits of free speech in another country."

Here's the memo, posted by David Drummond, Google's SVP of Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer.

Last Wednesday Sony began contacting a number of companies, including Google, to ask if we'd be able to make their movie, "The Interview," available online. We'd had a similar thought and were eager to help-though given everything that's happened, the security implications were very much at the front of our minds. 

Of course it was tempting to hope that something else would happen to ensure this movie saw the light of day. 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). 

So starting at 10 a.m. PST in the U.S., you can rent or buy "The Interview" on Google Play and YouTube Movies. It will also be available to Xbox Video customers and via www.seetheinterview.com.