The movie studios call it Steal DVD, and that’s why they’re suing Real Networks over its Real DVD program, which allows users to make a backup copy of DVDs. This week a San Francisco court is hearing legal arguments as to whether it violates copyrights.
To Bill Hankes of RealDVD, the case is simple. He told the BBC:
"The consumer should have the same fair use rights to copy DVDs just as they have for the last decade with music."
But of course, there’s a bit more to it than that. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which is representing studios in the case, claims that RealDVD is illegal under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) by bypassing copyright protection software on the DVD. It predicts a “rent, rip, and return” future for the DVD market.
In a statement, Greg Goeckner, executive vice president and general counsel for the MPAA, wrote:
"Our objective is to get the illegal choices out of the marketplace and instead focus constructively with the technology community on bringing in more innovative and flexible legal options for consumers to enjoy movies."
Real say the software means the copy can only be played on the computer that made it, eliminating the possibility of sharing. Of course, there’s already plenty of other software out that that does allow for ripping and sharing, and it’s going to remain out there. No matter the outcome of this case.
