Judge Opens Hearing On RealDVD Legal Battle 164
FP writes "On Friday morning, lawyers urged a federal judge to bar RealNetworks from selling software that allows consumers to copy their DVDs to computer hard drives, arguing that the Seattle-based company's product is an illegal pirating tool. RealNetworks' lawyers countered later in the morning that its RealDVD product is equipped with piracy protections that limits a DVD owner to making a single copy and is a legitimate way to back up copies of movies legally purchased. This legal battle began with a restraining order last October which stopped the sale of RealDVD. More coverage is available at NPR. The same judge who shut down Napster is presiding over the three-day trial."
Reader IonOtter points out that later in the day, Judge Patel sealed the court after DVD Copy Control Association lawyers "argued that public testimony of aspects of the CSS copy-control technology would violate trade secrets."
sign of the apocalypse... (Score:5, Funny)
Is CSS even a secret any more? (Score:4, Funny)
Yeah, it would really be terrible if de-CSS code were included in court filings [wwcn.org], now, wouldn't it? I just have to wonder: doesn't a trade secret have to be secret? Or are they hiding something else these days?
Re:sign of the apocalypse... (Score:5, Funny)
"I can count how many times I've rooted for Real on a one-bit integer. "
Signed, or unsigned?
Re:Betamax Redux (Score:4, Funny)
Nothing is different. The corporations own the courts which enforce the laws they bribed Congress to get passed.
Re:sign of the apocalypse... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:sign of the apocalypse... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:sign of the apocalypse... (Score:2, Funny)
The woosh is on your moron
See, this is one reason why I read Slashdot. :->
First Sale (Score:4, Funny)
I'd love to see Real point out the First Sale. The customer bought it, they can fold, spindle or mutilate it.
If the studios claim it's licensed, point out the ads that say "Buy it today!" or "Own it today!"