Hacked Sony staff 'should not worry about studio's future' assures CEO Lynton

Company prepares for 'Christmas gift' of more data leaks

Sony Pictures CEO Michael Lynton has met with company staff to try to allay any fears they might have about the consequences of recent hacker attacks on the company.

According to an employee who attended a session, Lynton met Sony workers at a sound stage in Culver City, California, and told them not to worry about the studio's future following the hack. He also praised them for their work throughout the attacks.

Co-chairman Amy Pascal was also present, apparently "near tears" over a leaked email in which she made a joke about US president Barack Obama's race.

The hackers - who may be North Koreans angry about an upcoming film that lampoons the country's leader, Kim Jong-un - are promising a "Christmas gift" of more leaked data, and are even inviting the public to make requests as to what appears.

"We are preparing for you a Christmas gift," they said. "The gift will be larger quantities of data. And it will be more interesting. The gift will surely give you much more pleasure and put Sony Pictures into the worst state. Please send an email titled by ‘Merry Christmas' at the addresses below to tell us what you want in our Christmas gift."

Sony has responded by writing to media outlets asking them not to publish any more hacked data, of which 200GB has so far been released by the hackers.

Sony has even stated that it may start holding media outlets legally liable for damage caused by publishing the material.

"The company does not consent to your possession, review, copyright, dissemination, publication, uploading, downloading or making any use of the stolen information," a Sony lawyer wrote, asking for "cooperation in destroying the stolen information".

News outlets should "take all reasonable actions" to stop the publishing of its sensitive details, said Sony and, if these orders are not followed, the company "will have no choice but to hold you responsible for any damage or loss arising from such dissemination by you".