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In Response To Restraining Order, Real Networks Pulls RealDVD

Posted by timothy on from the corporate-masochism dept.

eldavojohn writes "RealNetworks' product that allows one to copy a DVD containing a movie has been pulled. You may recall us discussing RealDVD and its legal implications." According to the linked BBC report, "RealNetworks — the firm behind the software — has responded to restraining order issued by a US court stopped selling the RealDVD software [sic]. Six major movie studios jointly sued the company on 30 September — the day the software was launched."

13 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. I'm clueless on this, but by JeanBaptiste · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Isn't there other software that allows you to copy/rip DVDs ?

    If there isn't, can I write one and get sued ? At least I'd get my name in the papers...

    1. Re:I'm clueless on this, but by Holmwood · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There is other software -- DVD Decrypter was one popular piece of software. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_Decrypter ) In the US, it may or may not be illegal under the DMCA to use such programs to back up your own DVDs. The only controlling legal authority I'm aware of said that doing so was legal, provided it was for personal use, but that distributing software to make this possible was illegal.

      Go figure.

    2. Re:I'm clueless on this, but by nurb432 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Personally, i don't care if its illegal ( which it is if you break the encryption to do it ) to back up my own DVDs.

      --
      ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  2. Who am I supposed to hate more? by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is Sauron versus Palpatine. Is there a good guy? Don't think so.

    1. Re:Who am I supposed to hate more? by MobyDisk · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Except that in this case, Real Networks is doing the right thing.

  3. Re:What, No Balls?? by the+eric+conspiracy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Huh? You mean ignore a restraining order? That would be totally suicidal. Coming out with the product in the first place is pretty ballsy, and I think Real should be congratulated for that move.

  4. Hate Wiki, but.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Isn't this still covered under the Home Recording Act? Why is still so often overlooked or not referred back to?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Home_Recording_Act

    1. Re:Hate Wiki, but.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      It may be legal to copy DVDs for personal use. What isn't legal, thanks to the DMCA, is selling a device which can be used to defeat copy protection measures, which is what Real is doing here. So you can copy that DVD, but no one is allowed to give you the tools to do so.

  5. You know what would be a great act of spite? by MikeRT · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "Oops, someone broke into our network and stole the source code to RealDVD. Guess it's out of our hands now!"

  6. Re:Surprise? by Dog-Cow · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Who in the UK doesn't have a region-ignoring player? You need better educated friends, perhaps.

  7. Re:The Controlling Legal Authority is the DMCA by Peter+Simpson · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well, every time you use a licensed player to play a DVD, you (legally) circumvent or bypass the encryption (otherwise, you could not view the DVD you paid for)

    It comes down to the term "circumvent", which is defined in the DMCA as:

    "...to `circumvent a technological measure' means to descramble a scrambled work, to decrypt an encrypted work, or otherwise to avoid, bypass, remove, deactivate, or impair a technological measure, without the authority of the copyright owner..."

    I call your attention to the phrase "descramble a scrambled work...without the authority of the copyright owner" in the above quote.

    Does viewing a DVD under Linux, for example, using a non-approved decrypter, constitute circumvention, or, have you, by virtue of your purchase of the DVD, received an implicit license from the copyright owner to view the content? Did you receive a license to view the content *only* on licensed playback devices? If so, where is that restriction listed on the media you purchased?

  8. Re:What, No Balls?? by BobMcD · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Going to a gun fight with a knife is pretty ballsy too, but I'm not sure "congratulations" are the first thought that would be offered to such an act.

    Inside or outside 21 feet?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tueller_Drill

  9. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion