MRT, a Californian company, has issued a cease and desist letter to the biggest high-tech players, like Microsoft, Apple and Adobe, asserting that the companies are violating federal copyright law by "actively avoiding" use of its products.

Media Rights Technologies and its digital radio subsidiary BlueBeat.com claim to have developed a technology which effectively controls access to a copyrighted work or which protects the rights of copyright owners. According to a press release issued by MRT, “that product, the X1 SeCure Recording Control, has been tested by the industry's standards bodies, the RIAA and IFPI, and has been proven effective against stream ripping, while protecting privacy and limiting infringement liability for users, distributors and academic institution.�

In MRT’s opinion because the companies are avoiding use of its purportedly effective product, they are violating the DMCA.

“It makes illegal and prohibits the manufacture of any product or technology that is designed for the purpose of circumventing a technological measure which effectively controls access to a copyrighted work or which protects the rights of copyright owners. Under the DMCA, mere avoidance of an effective copyright protection solution is a violation of the act.� MRT added in its press release.

With its cease and desist letters MRT seeks to stop the production or sale of Vista OS, Adobe Flash Player, Real Player, Apple iTunes and iPod.

“Failure to comply with this demand could result in a federal court injunction to any of the above named parties to cease production or sale of their products and/or the imposition of statutory damages of at least $200 to $2500 for each product distributed or sold.� MRT’s statement reads.

Although MRT’s claims may seem very serious, legal experts are considering that the letters were more an attempt to gain some publicity. "It looks to me like a play for publicity," claimed University of Michigan copyright expert and law professor Jessica Litman, quoted by Apple Insider. The DMCA "doesn't impose liability simply because some product could be redesigned to implement a technological protection scheme but its makers decline to do so.�, she added

According to CNET, RealNetworks spokesman Matt Graves said he hadn't yet seen the letter, but it appeared to be a ploy by a "desperate company" to get its product licensed. "That's a rather novel approach to business development," he said.

The other companies declined to make any comments about the issue.