The End of DVD Copying? MPAA Kills RealDVD for Good

Instead of appealing a decision that deemed its DVD-copying software illegal, Real Networks caved to the studios and will pay $4.5 million. Implications for Kaleidescape?

Real Networks (RNWK) caved to the studios yesterday.

Instead of appealing a decision that deemed its $30 RealDVD ripping software illegal, the company is paying the studios $4.5 million as reimbursement for legal fees.

Under the auspices of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the studios sued Real in September 2008, claiming violations under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

An injunction was imposed – and never lifted -- on sales of RealDVD.

In August 2009, the MPAA prevailed in its case against Real, which promised to appeal the decision.

Yesterday, Real gave up.

In addition to coughing up $4.5 million, Real agreed to abandon its claims against the studios and shut off metadata to the 2,700 users who managed to buy the software before the injunction was ordered.

After yesterday’s decision, MPAA general counsel Daniel Mandil said that the court’s “rulings and this settlement affirm what we have said from the very start of this litigation: It is illegal to bypass the copyright protections built into DVDs.”
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Apparently the MPAA is completely clueless to the fact that there's more than just one software program that can copy DVDs....

What a bunch of dopes.

bmwracer wrote:

Apparently the MPAA is completely clueless to the fact that there's more than just one software program that can copy DVDs.... What a bunch of dopes.

I know. How popular was RealDVD anyways? I don't think I've ever heard anyone mention that they use it?

Jav_sol wrote:

I know. How popular was RealDVD anyways? I don't think I've ever heard anyone mention that they use it?

I can't even say that I've even heard of RealDVD...

Hello,

This is really baffling me. A friend of mine purchased a component DVD recorder. But, when he hooked it up to his television it would only record in black and white. He thought it was a problem with the unit, but when I hooked it to my television, I got full color.

He has a satelite dish, where I have standard cable. But, in both cases the recorder was connected to the television.

In either case, when a regular DVD is played in the unit, it is in color, so the problem only happens when he records something from his television.

Any ideas on why this is happening?

Thanks,
Dave
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desert-raven wrote:

Hello, This is really baffling me. A friend of mine purchased a component DVD recorder. But, when he hooked it up to his television it would only record in black and white. He thought it was a problem with the unit, but when I hooked it to my television, I got full color. He has a satelite dish, where I have standard cable. But, in both cases the recorder was connected to the television. In either case, when a regular DVD is played in the unit, it is in color, so the problem only happens when he records something from his television. Any ideas on why this is happening? Thanks, Dave

"Hooked it up to his television?"

Doesn't he connect the recorder to the satellite box?

bmwracer wrote:

"Hooked it up to his television?" Doesn't he connect the recorder to the satellite box?

Well, the dish goes to the television, so he takes the output from the television to the DVD recorder.

Sorry, I was confused, he DOESN'T have a dish, he has an HD antenna.
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Too many JDramas, so little time!!

desert-raven wrote:

Well, the dish goes to the television, so he takes the output from the television to the DVD recorder.

What brand TV and recorder does he have?

Quote:

Sorry, I was confused, he DOESN'T have a dish, he has an HD antenna.

Okay.

Never heard of a TV that has video out from it.. Only audio out to feed into a receiver or audio amplifier...

I've had my 240Hz HDTV for almost four months now and noticed one significant thing: the whole 120-240-480Hz is completely overblown. More times than not I have the 240Hz mode turned off when I'm watching DVDs and when watching sports, I don't notice the oft-complained about ghosting/halo effect that's supposedly an issue with LCD TVs.

I probably could've saved myself $100 or more by buying the older, 120Hz model instead...

Live and learn.

bmwracer wrote:

I've had my 240Hz HDTV for almost four months now and noticed one significant thing: the whole 120-240-480Hz is completely overblown. More times than not I have the 240Hz mode turned off when I'm watching DVDs and when watching sports, I don't notice the oft-complained about ghosting/halo effect that's supposedly an issue with LCD TVs. I probably could've saved myself $100 or more by buying the older, 120Hz model instead... Live and learn.

I'm waiting for the 5Ghz HDTV...

Tu_triky wrote:

I'm waiting for the 5Ghz HDTV...

I think Sony is working on that.

bmwracer wrote:

I think Sony is working on that.

I know someone in a white lab coat is. With a pocket protector. And glasses.

Tu_triky wrote:

I know someone in a white lab coat is. With a pocket protector. And glasses.

You makin' fun o' me?

bmwracer wrote:

You makin' fun o' me?

I was actually imagining myself in that get up...except with a beer in my hand and a soldering gun.

Cosplay influences...

Tu_triky wrote:

I was actually imagining myself in that get up...except with a beer in my hand and a soldering gun. Cosplay influences...

LOL, I don't think they even making soldering guns anymore.

bmwracer wrote:

LOL, I don't think they even making soldering guns anymore.

See what happens when you try to design a TV with beer in one hand.

Tu_triky wrote:

See what happens when you try to design a TV with beer in one hand.

bmwracer wrote:

Dayem, talk about perfect.

Tu_triky wrote:

Dayem, talk about perfect.

Took a bit of effort to find that pic.

bmwracer wrote:

Took a bit of effort to find that pic.

I was gonna say...that is a gold nugget right there amidst the plentiful fool's gold.

Tu_triky wrote:

I was gonna say...that is a gold nugget right there amidst the plentiful fool's gold.

Like any search, you need to pick the correct keywords.

"lab coat beer" didn't work, but "doctor beer" did.