Miramax is to become the first major studio to provide a feature film for rental via the Internet. According to Reuters, Guinevere, which was first released in America in September 1999, will be distributed by SightSound Technologies from Monday for 24-hour rental at a cost of $3.49. Distribution will be via the film's own website and Miramax and SightSound's websites.

Guinevere, starring Stephen Rea and Sarah Polley, is the first of twelve films that Miramax will be releasing on the Internet under its agreement with SightSound Technologies. The titles and release dates of the remaining 11 movies are still to be determined.

Using the Microsoft Corporation's video compression technology, SightSound say the film, which is safeguarded against piracy, can even be sent to friends.

The fear of a "Napster for movies" rearing its head has prompted many Hollywood studios to invest in providing feature films via the Internet, according to industry sources who expect Sony to begin offering movies on the Web by the spring. Studios are said to be quickening their pace to avoid finding themselves in the same boat as the music industry, which has been criticized for lagging in the on-line arena as free services like Napster have attracted millions of fans.

"We can prevent for movies what Napster did for music," said Scott Sander, president and chief executive of SightSound. Users will have to download the movie to their hard drive, but before it can be viewed, they will be sent to an e-commerce site and asked for payment. If they try to watch the film again after 24 hours, they will automatically be sent back to the e-commerce site.