Earlier this month, we reported on the launch of RealDVD, a new software package from RealNetworks that makes ripping DVD's to hard drives or other portable storage devices a simple process.
In addition to maintaining the CSS on the ripped video files, RealDVD also adds its own proprietary DRM. This additional DRM limits the playback of the ripped files to 5 PC's maximum and requires the RealDVD software for playback. With all of these restrictions and a retail price of $49.99 (temporarily $29.99), I'm not sure how popular this DVD "solution" will actually be.
Regardless of the lack of consumer demand for RealDVD, the MPAA has now filed a lawsuit against RealNetworks, requesting a temporary restraining order on the grounds that the software violates the nefarious Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
“RealNetworks’ RealDVD should be called StealDVD,” MPAA executive VP and general counsel Greg Goeckner said in a statement announcing its lawsuit. “RealNetworks knows its product violates the law and undermines the hard-won trust that has been growing between America’s movie makers and the technology community. The major motion picture studios have been making major investments in technologies that allow people to access entertainment in a variety of new and legal ways.”
RealNetworks obviously does not agree with the MPAA. In fact, Real filed a preemptive lawsuit this morning, even before the MPAA offensive suit was dropped in at the courts.
"In response to threats made by the major movie studios, RealNetworks this morning plans to file an action for a declaratory judgment against DVD Copy Control Association, ..."
"The lawsuit asks the court to rule that RealNetworks Home Entertainment, Inc.'s RealDVD software, made available to consumers today at www.realdvd.com, fully complies with the DVD Copy Control Association's license agreement."
"We are disappointed that the movie industry is following in the footsteps of the music industry and trying to shut down advances in technology rather than embracing changes that provide consumers with more value and flexibility for their purchases."
The MPAA and the CCA are spending time, energy and money trying to protect an encryption mechanism (CSS) that was cracked years ago! Talk about a waste of resources.
Meanwhile, DVDShrink and DVD Fab HD Decrypter are still widely available online, allowing consumers to easily backup their DVD movies with free software.
Who would have thought that we would be saying this: GO REAL.... No matter how much the product they make sucks, you have to hand it to them to go up against the MPAA. I wonder how the MPAA will win, since with all previous DVD Ripping cases, the protection was broken. According to Real though, RealDVD doesn't break the encryption, so this should be perfectly legal. Granted, I would never use it, lol, but it's awesome that some company is trying to stand against the MPAA
No DVD backup software "breaks" the encryption because the CSS key is already known.
"The MPAA and the CCA are spending time, energy and money..."
They're not spending but wasting resources.
I read somewhere that some game maker asked online why people pirate his games and the overwhelming majority responded with two reasons: price, and even moreso because of DRM which they do not agree with. He immediately dropped the price and removed DRM. If more companies did this then they wouldn't have nearly as much of a problem with things like pirating and may even make more money because they're not pissing everyone off in the proccess. Just my two cents.
From the article:
"One of the MPAA's concerns is that consumers will rip movies they rent."
God that would be horrible if people started doing that! I sure hope nobody ever invents something that would let you do that! I just can't imagine what would happen.
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