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In a very RIAA-like move, the MPAA has sued RealNetworks for a program that they claim allows its users to steal DVDs.  The program is called RealDVD, which allows you to copy your DVD onto your computer or external hard drive for playback later.  However, Real says that RealDVD has encryption that doesn’t allow users to copy or distribute the DVD files.  Although, theoretically it is possible to get a DVD from Blockbuster, Netflix, or even a friend, copy it, and give it back.

It’s kinda funny that this is happening now.  Sure, Real is a big company, but the ability to copy videos to your computer has been around for a while.  There are a lot of programs that will do it for you that make the video playable on your computer, iPod, or almost any other device.  Maybe it’s because RealDVD is shareware, while most of the other, more complicated methods use freeware.  Although, DriveIn has been doing that for a while, but it’s Mac only.

Real is ready to take the fight to several parties and will sue a number of film companies, including Viacom, Warner Brothers, and DVD Copy Control Association Inc among others.  Real says that its RealDVD program does not break any laws.  Real believes that “RealDVD complies with its DVD Copy Control Association’s license agreement.”  There is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and it may work against Real’s argument, but it is hard to say exactly.

Personally, I hope Real is allowed to distribute RealDVD legally.  Watching DVDs on a laptop without having to carry the DVDs around all the time would be a tremendous help.  There is the iTunes Movie Store, but it has only the movies, and no other features.  Does anyone else wonder why the MPAA hasn’t just come out with their own watermarked software for DVDs?

Read [Reuters]