RealDVD Ruled Illegal
I was never going to buy RealDVD (I am exploring other solutions), but I think this is a real mistake being made by the studios. Unable to learn from the repeated failings of the RIAA, Hollywood seems quite bent on driving any potentially legal offering underground and will thusly encourage a situation where consumers are going to have to break the law to get what they want.
The case involves the legality of two products intended to allow DVD owners to make digital copies onto hard drives for later playback. One product, which Real briefly offered until being hit with a temporary restraining order in November 2008, was software intended for use on a personal computer. The second, which never made it out of prototype, was a “video jukebox” that combined DVD player and a hard drive — what Real hoped would be a sub-$300 competitor for the fantastic (and fantastically expensive) Kaleidescape media server.
That’s what I want; the ability to stream my DVDs to any TV in my house without having to go down to the basement to open a cabinet and drop it in a player. Oh, and to not have my kids scratch their favorite DVD when they go to watch it for the n
And whatever the outcome of [Real's appeal], this ruling sends a chilling message to any technology innovator interested in delivering new products that interact with the DVDs you own. At the same time, Judge Patel’s ruling is not likely to make any dent in the widespread availability of free, easy to use, unauthorized DVD rippers like Handbrake, Mac the Ripper, and DVD Shrink.
In other words, as we’ve said before, this case has nothing to do with “piracy,” and everything to do with Hollywood using the DMCA to control the pace and nature of innovation for DVDs, to the detriment of those who legitimately buy their DVDs.
I cannot remember who said it, but if I can (more or less) legally copy my CDs to my iTunes, then why can’t I copy my DVD?
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