RealDVD ripping software heads to court, fair use advocates on pins and needles

Let's face it -- quite a lot is resting on the outcome of this case. For months now, RealNetworks has been unable to legally sell its RealDVD movie ripping software after a court issued a temporary restraining order that remains valid until it's decided if the application violates the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act). Now, the software is finally having its day in court, and the outcome could shape the future of the DVD player (for better or worse). You see, Real has already assembled a prototype Facet device that hums along on Linux; essentially, this DVD playing machine would sell for around $300 and could store up to 70 movies internally. On the surface, this sounds entirely like a poor man's Kaleidescape, but only time will tell if The Man agrees. Cross your fingers folks, we get the feeling fair use advocates are going to need the luck.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 27th 2009 5:20AM]

Whoever's DVD collection this software is showing is probably sitting at home right now patiently waiting for Netflix to deliver them Air Bud 6: World Woofing Federation

[DrXym Posted Apr 27th 2009 11:24AM]

RealDVD superficially sounds like a good idea, but the extra layer of DRM and the pricing model was pretty stupid. Maybe, just maybe if you were a novice user with a pressing urge to watching everything contained on the DVD on the go it might be worth it.

I also find it ironic that a product that claims fair use should plaster the resulting files in DRM so you cannot use them as you see fit.

I do think the existing rip tools need to be simpler to use. Especially the free ones. It wouldn't hurt either if a tool were able to automatically rip all the menus and playlists too and for something like VLC to support the portable format. Most of the pieces are in place to do this already.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 28th 2009 6:55PM]

Yes, DRM is evil because I think it's been used primarily to force consumers to lock into a particular technology or business model.

After renting movies via Apple TV I began to see how useful DRM can be. The experience is just like I would expect.

If Real can devise technology that interoperates with devices from multiple manufacturers and lets me view my media on any other device I own... all the power to them. I don't want to share content, I just want to be able to use it like I can my existing DVDs (except without physical media).

If DRM-free works for music, why can't it work for videos?

[DrXym Posted Apr 30th 2009 12:11PM]

Renting isn't the same as owning. You expect to lose your rental after some short period so it doesn't really matter how its encrypted, encoded, purchased from, tied to a device or anything else. The same is not true for purchased content. At the very least there needs to be a common industry format and common industry DRM so that consumers can purchase movies anywhere and play them on any compatible device. Digital downloads will never take off (except on torrent sites) while different companies try to lock purchases into their own hardware, or tie it to particular service.