PDA

View Full Version : Judge bars sales of RealNetworks' DVD software



Sporkman
August 12th, 2009, 02:06 PM
Judge bars sales of RealNetworks' DVD software

By PAUL ELIAS, Associated Press Writer Paul Elias, Associated Press Writer – Tue Aug 11, 11:49 pm ET

SAN FRANCISCO – DVD copying software sold by RealNetworks Inc. appears to be an illegal pirating tool, a federal judge ruled Tuesday in a legal battle that's been closely watched in Hollywood and elsewhere.

The Seattle-based company's RealDVD software violates federal anti-piracy law and also goes against a contract RealNetworks signed to gain keys to unscramble DVDs, U.S. District Court Judge Marilyn Hall Patel said.

DVDs are embedded with anti-piracy technology that prevents copying, Patel noted.

"RealDVD products are designed primarily for circumvention of that technology," she wrote. "This unauthorized access infringes the Studios' rights because it entails accessing content without the authority of the copyright owner."...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090812/ap_on_re_us/us_hollywood_real_networks_2