Miramax Films said it will make the romance "Guinevere" available for downloading next week, marking the first time a major studio is providing a feature film for rental via the Internet.
The unit of Walt Disney Co. DIS.N said the movie, first released to theaters in Sept. 1999, will be distributed beginning Jan. 22 by SightSound Technologies for 24-hour rental at a fee of $3.49 at ( http://www.guineverethemovie.com) and Miramax and SightSound's Web sites.
Using Microsoft Corp.'s MSFT.O video compression technology, SightSound said the film, which is safeguarded against piracy, can even be sent to friends.
The fear of a "Napster for movies" rearing its head has had major Hollywood studios clamoring to provide feature films via the Internet, according to industry sources who expect Sony Corp 6758.T to begin offering movies on the Web by the spring.
-Reuters