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Real Sues Baseball Over Windows Media

Posted by simoniker on from the not-happy-bunnies dept.

westlake writes 'According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, RealNetworks has sued Major League Baseball over its use of Windows Media. The dispute began with MLB's decision to stream exhibition games in WMA format only, under its revised contract, Real claims all live MLB streams must include RealMedia as an option. The piece states: 'Windows Media Player controlled about 34 percent of the U.S. market, compared with nearly 19 percent for RealOne player and 10 percent for QuickTime player, according to January data from Nielsen/NetRatings.'"

7 of 349 comments (clear)

  1. What's wrong? by powerpuffgirls · · Score: 5, Informative

    I can't see what's wrong with the lawsuit. RealNetworks has a contract with MLB.

    Please note that Real is not asking MLB to only broadcast in Real, as the article stated, "MLB is free to use Microsoft's Windows Media format if it wants, but under the Feb. 8 agreement, it also must use RealNetworks' RealMedia format to provide live coverage of the entire baseball season, including spring training."

  2. Re:Real Supports Other Platforms by mhesseltine · · Score: 4, Informative
    Now, with windows media being the only stream being offered, I will not be able to listen to the broadcasts as windows media player doesn't support either my linux machines (or solaris the other OS I use). So MLB take note, I probably won't renew this year if media player is all you offer.

    Quick FYI: Mplayer's supported formats seem to include Windows Media formats. I've sucessfully opened ASF files and WMV files using Mplayer on Gentoo. I'm not sure about Solaris (I don't run it) but Mplayer's page on Solaris seems to indicate that it should work.

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    Overrated / Underrated : Moderation :: Anonymous Coward : Posting
  3. MPEG-4 != QuickTime by Branka96 · · Score: 3, Informative

    The file format for MPEG-4 is based on QuickTime's file format.
    The audio format and video format used in MPEG-4 are not Apple technologies. Heck, Microsoft unlike Apple is one of the patent holders for the video format.
    Try to play a MPEG-4 file using one of the more advanced profiles in QuickTime. You can't. Apple only supports MPEG-4 Simple Profile.

  4. Re:that's weird by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    The parent is not a troll and should not be modded as such. The poster is correct in that the lawsuit is apparently the result of a contract between Real and MLB, and MLB is failing to uphold their end of the contract. This differs from the incorrect analogy made by the parent's parent, since the parent is explaining how this is within the bounds of contract law.

  5. Re:I'm so torn by GlassUser · · Score: 2, Informative

    Probably standard MPEG

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    funny munging
  6. Re:that's weird by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    > The poster is correct in that the lawsuit is apparently the result of a contract between Real and MLB, and MLB is failing to uphold their end of the contract.

    "Apparently failing" is the right phrase; the suit hinges on the meaning of the word 'season', as in 'baseball season'. Now, does that include the pre- and post-regular-season games? MLB says no, Real says yes, and away to court they go.

    It does seem awfully stupid of Real to have signed a contract without definite dates or specific phrases in it instead of the poorly-worded 'season'.

  7. Re:I'm so torn by RazzleFrog · · Score: 2, Informative

    Wow. Talk about ethnocentric. Your country doesn't know baseball which means that most of the world doesn't. Well I have to tell you that baseball is huge in Latin America and most of Asia. Just because it never caught on in YOUR Europe doesn't mean it isn't popular elsewhere. And they say that Americans are self centered.