Sony's attempt at trying to appeal to the clean / upright brigade by releasing 'clean' versions of their films has well and truly backfired.

The initiative, which would see a number of their films re-released but with much more editing and sanitising involved, came in for sharp and heavy criticism from directors and writers, such as Judd Apatow calling it "absolute bullshit" in a Twitter rant a couple of days ago.

As well as this, the DGA - Directors' Guild Of America - issued a sharp condemnation of Sony's move, and warned that they're violating the DGA's contract with the major studios.

"Taking a director’s edit for one platform, and then releasing it on another — without giving the director the opportunity to edit — violates our Agreement. Throughout the years, the DGA has achieved hard-fought creative rights gains protecting our members from such practices. As creators of their films, directors often dedicate years of hard work to realize their full vision, and they rightfully have a vested interest in protecting that work. We are committed to vigorously defending against the unauthorized alteration of films."

In light of all this, Sony now appears to be rolling back on their plan somewhat. In a statement, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's president, Man Jit Singh, explained that only directors who approve of the edited version will have their films re-released. As SPHE tells it, the only thing they were doing was making the airline / TV version of films available when people purchased a film on iTunes, Vudu or FandangoNOW. In all, 24 films would have this 'clean' version made available.

However, after the DGA's statement, Sony's rolled over. "Our directors are of paramount importance to us and we want to respect those relationships to the utmost. We believed we had obtained approvals from the filmmakers involved for use of their previously supervised television versions as a value added extra on sales of the full version. But if any of them are unhappy or have reconsidered, we will discontinue it for their films."

The 24 films involved all five Spider-Man movies, 50 First Dates, Talladega Nights, White House Down, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Ghostbusters I and II and several others. Following on from Sony's statement, the DGA returned with another one. "“While we’re pleased that Sony is acknowledging its mistakes in this area, the DGA has notified Sony that it expects the immediate removal of all ‘clean’ versions of the affected films from availability until Sony secures permission from each and every director, and provides them with an opportunity to edit a version for release in new media – consistent with the DGA Agreement and the directors’ individual contracts,” the DGA said.

So, what's the lesson learned from all of this? Well, for one, trying to edit something - which could be read as censoring something - is never a good idea. Especially in Trump's America, where people are really frightened about censorship. Sony are obviously trying to do something, literally anything, to resurrect the flagging home market and making the clean versions of these films was an ill-advised attempt at doing something. Before you start with the theories, this wasn't some kind of ploy to put these films back in circulation or talk up Sony's home offerings.

This was a fuck-up, pure and simple. It's like that line from All President's Men, when Hal Holbrook meets Robert Redford in the car-parking lot. "The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand."