Just out of curiosity, how does one 'return' stolen information?

yes, and how many law suits do you think Sony will get from this? you think not many? or just because its Sony that it will get over looked?

the over site already looked at sony in 2011, and now again..yeah you do not think that will not effect the outcome? Sony no doubt will have to have oversite on their network by "outside means now" ie: forced over site for they could not expect the hacking attacks to stop that = more money Sony will have to pay on a increased basis.

this may be the first death by cyber attack of a company, due to cost over runs due to security costs/ being unable to be met. think about this the, destruction to Sonys Network security viability being heavy will be seen as "never good enough" because they can keep breaking your security! every time it does = further perception. already its had an effect across all of Sony company parts. already there is media asking is this a preview more now PSN getting attacked again?.and if the hackers get through? what than?

enough of this destruction to "network security perception" could in effect force Sony to close its network completely due to cost over runs of increased security costs that Sony could not be able to pay because not enough money to pay for it all.

the costs could exceed viability to defend, when a country has a Govt. willing to fit the bill for a companies destruction!

that would of course not take into account more hacking groups that decide, hey why not? no down side to attack when they are weakend..

many it seems are waving the down with Sony hacking flag, whats one more? 

Well I dont know. Just delete it then

Sony is a Japanese company. :-p

Anyhow, this is businesses making decisions. Not the goverment.

For what its worth, it was a relatively low budget movie. If it was Amazing Spiderman 3, maybe they would be willing to put up more of a fight.

I'm sorry dude but this is just wild speculation. The US government will step in on behalf of the citizens affected. This will die down over time for Sony, not ramp up and create hysteria and cause the collapse of a company that is primarily fed by it's insurance branch in japan. Hollywood wants them to release the film. People are on Sony's side for this, but they're upset at the decision. Your prediction is really quite out there, likely fed by some internet banter.

Forced oversight of their networks will bankrupt them alongside a decline in purchases due to an irrational fear that they will be hacked again? I mean, cmon man. Take a breath and think about this.

SPE is American. C'mon man that is like the most basic information you could possibly have about Sony.

And SPE is a subsidary of Sony, they call the shots.

That movie could be available digitally right now is Sony desired.

yeah I believe Sony/movie companies should've let this movie to be seen, this sends a message that hackers can get their way with a "serious" enough threat. what happens to the next Sony film or any other movie producer that shows a movie that might come off offensive. I seriously doubt there would've been a 9/11 type threat as I believe in this case our goverment would've seen this a mile away specially if was was actually from North Korea

The UK made a mockumentary about the Assassination of President Bush in 2006, so your statement rings false.

North Korea makes provocative videos all the time (The US on fire, as an example), and nobody does anything but shake their heads at them, like the petulent children they are.  Sony, however, is not an American company, and isn't bound by the US' terrorism policies.  Also, there's a big difference between the US refusing to negotiate with terrorists, while having a rather sizeable military to renegotiate.  Sony has no such luxury.

die down over time? really? its been going on for a d@mn .long time

how do you think that malware got in? it was from people working inside Sony helping this hack go through.

ps3 the USB security key gets into Hackers hands

PSN hack goes through

Now helpers inside Sony help to hack yet again Sonys Network

and you really think the US govt. will step in and not find Sony at fault? again?

the law suits yet again will cost Sony millions, but again unlike last time a countries Govt. was using its resources to hack a company that is worth what less than 24 billion, and you really think that North Korea will stop now? that it will some how die down?

if North Korea continues doing this , they could very well cause the end of pretty much all of Sony's networks.

thats like if the US Govt. was sending the NSA after you, if every time you build up your defense they keep battering it down, it does not matter how much you say: hey we did the best we could, after a while and in the case of Sony how would the network viability of its perception of security not suffer? more than it already is even with the US Govt stepping in. that means if the US Govt. does step in it will Cost Sony heavy. If not what is to Stop North Korea from not hacking Sony further with its resources that its Govt. can bring to the Table.

this is not a corp vs corp with rules, this is a corp vs the leader of a country and its officers with an axe to grind. they will not be done until they are done , when or if ever that may be.

im looking at this is , has as a Q: has North Korea decided its made its point well enough on sony ? or does it see that more needs to be done? i say expect the worse, Hope for the best