Intel gets into the movie business

CHIP MAKING giant Intel has teamed up with actor Morgan Freeman in a cunning plan to distribute movies over the interweb before they become available on DVD.

The venture, which the RIAA normally call piracy, seems to have some backing from the Hollywood mainstream.

Freeman, who was recently seen in Batman Begins, and Intel executives announced the new digital entertainment company at an annual retreat for chief executives of top media companies at a swanky mountain resort.

According to Intel, the venture is called ClickStar but it is not saying how much cash it is stumping up for the big idea.

Freeman said his deal with Intel should avoid the piracy pitfall by giving customers a "simple, easy and attractive" alternative to piracy. He didn't mention how that would be done.

The outfit will be run by former Sony Pictures executive Nizar Allibhoy. Intel's Bill Calder said Intel had been working for several years with Freeman, setting up "digital home" technology in his studio and doing a long-range wireless demonstration at the Sundance film festival. µ

* MEANWHILE Intel said it has signed a deal with Corning to develop ultra low thermal expansion glass photomask substrates. The substrates will allow the creation of 32 nanometre Extreme Ultraviolet lithography based processes.