It’s a measure of how Real Networks’ fortunes have changed in Hollywood that it would be willing to introduce a product today almost certain to attract the legal wrath of the biggest studios.

RealDVD, a $30 software program, allows users to download an exact copy of a DVD directly to their hard drives. While the company insists its program is completely legal, the jury is literally still out on whether copying DVDs is legal. The studios literally sued  321 Studios, which marketed its own DVD-copying software, out of existence; and the DVD Copy Control Association is appealing a ruling in favor of Kaleidescape, a Silicon Valley startup that enables servers to rip and stream DVDs.

Real Networks is evidently calculating that its Rhapsody music service, which depends upon record companies to sell their copyrighted material, won’t be hurt by hot-headed movie studios concerned about piracy of their copyrighted material. Nothing like irony in Hollywood.

Posted under Michael's Blog