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Judge Rules Against RealDVD

Posted by Soulskill on from the another-one-bites-the-dust dept.

mattOzan writes "Judge Marilyn Hall Patel was unswayed by RealNetworks' defense of their product under the Fair Use Doctrine, as she declared RealDVD illegal and barred its distribution. As she said in her ruling, 'So while it may well be fair use for an individual consumer to store a backup copy of a personally owned DVD on that individual's computer, a federal law has nonetheless made it illegal to manufacture or traffic in a device or tool that permits a consumer to make such copies.' She also said RealNetworks was aware of the conflict between their agreement and their plans for the software: 'Real did not elect to return (or destroy, with appropriate certification) the CSS General Specifications after it received them, as Real had a right to do under the agreement... This behavior indicates that Real understood it to be bound by the CSS General Specifications as well as the other technical specifications received after execution of the CSS License Agreement.'"

7 of 407 comments (clear)

  1. decss by MancunianMaskMan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Real did not elect to return (or destroy, with appropriate certification) the CSS General Specifications

    maybe they used DVD Jon's version?

  2. I wouldn't say this delays the distro of RealDVD by Centurix · · Score: 4, Funny

    More of a buffering really.

    --
    Task Mangler
  3. Re:Stop making sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    >>If you don't like the law (and this one is supremely stupid), go change your lawmakers.

    I thought we just did. Change we can believe in, right?

    I'm sure any moment now the dems will vote to repeal the DMCA. Right?

    Any... second... now....

  4. Re:Handbrake, damnit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    In order to read encrypted DVDs, Handbrake delegates to VNC, which users must download and install separately.

    VNC? What does a remote desktop utility have to do with viewing DVDs?

  5. Re:No, Clearly a Horrible Anti-Fair Use Ruling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    This comment is worded exactly as intended. Any application of fantabulous "Fixed that for you" jokes will be "modded up and hilarious".

    Fixed that for you.

  6. Re:No, Clearly a Horrible Anti-Fair Use Ruling by element-o.p. · · Score: 2, Funny

    Unless it is a DVD that you hate, in which case it will then last forever.

    --
    MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
  7. dd if=/dev/dvd of=copy.iso by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Who wrote dd? Who came up with character and block special files? Who made my CPU, the cable to the DVD drive, the DVD drive. We shouldn't be going after the end user here. We should go after the big fish who made it all possible.