Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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."

11 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. Working together by iamwhoiamtoday · · Score: 5, Informative

    See? The big companies CAN work together when they want to. I'm honestly surprised that 6 major movie companies could work together without backstabbing each other. On a related note: When it comes to DVD ripping... just use "Handbrake" (google it. open-source ripping software)

    1. Re:Working together by Dog-Cow · · Score: 5, Funny

      If I had a choice between buying kids and video iPods, I'd pick the iPods any day.

  2. maybe there were other motives... by ChienAndalu · · Score: 5, Funny

    I mean, have you ever *used* a Real(TM) product? Maybe the film studios only want to protect us...

  3. How to rip DVDs for nothing by DrXym · · Score: 5, Informative
    DVDs are easy to rip. Commercial tools like AnyDVD and Nero Recode make a good job but you can do it for nothing quite easily.
    1. Install DVD Decrypter. Google for it
    2. Install Handbrake
    3. Rip DVD with Decrypter to a folder on the HDD
    4. Run Handbrake, choose DVD folder
    5. Select main movie feature or anything else
    6. Tweak bitrate and other settings and / or pick a target device (iPod, PS3, 360 etc.)
    7. Click Start
    8. Wait a bit, shiny digital copy pops out

    Handbrake is a front end over xvid and x264 encoders so you get either an MPEG-2 ASP (DiVX) or H264 AVC file from the process. Depending on your target device you might want to choose one or the other or fiddle with the other settings but the defaults are pretty sane if you don't know what you are doing.

    Sure the process might skip supplementals and there may be edge cases with alternate tracks or subtitles that require more effort but x264 is an excellent encoder and the quality is very good. I really don't see why anybody would want to use RealDVD when it DRMs the resulting movie in the process.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. Nobody with a brain used that crap anyway by InspectorxGadget · · Score: 5, Informative

    1. (DVD) -> DVD Decrypter -> MeGUI, X264 -> Done.

    2. (BD) -> DVDFAB -> TsMuxeR -> MeGUI, X264 -> Done.

    3. (CD) -> Exact Audio Copy -> FLAC -8 -> Done.

    Next question.

  7. Re:I'm clueless on this, but by homes32 · · Score: 5, Informative

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

    Not commercial. There are open source tools that you can accomplish this with and there are certainly shady products you can find online that aren't supported and probably aren't owned and operated inside the United States. The important thing is that they are not sold at Best Buy nor are they easy to use. I know ways of doing it with Ubuntu but your average person is still mystified that typing something on a command line causes my DVD player to do something.

    I disagree. AnyDVD and DVDFAB Decrypter are straight forward and extremely easy to use, (1-2 button click) and have a pretty decent support base. Although you can't find them at Best Buy...

  8. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Informative

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  9. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Informative

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  10. 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?