There are a number of programs out there which are used to rip DVDs. The technology is not new, and the principle is simple: you copy the DVD to your hard disk, and watch it without requiring the original disk. However this practice has always been a little shady as far as the law is concerned. Advocates argue that it allows them to backup their movies and spare the original discs some wear-and-tear, while others – record companies mostly – cry wolf at the potential pirating uses of this type of software.

Now, there are many programs that can rip DVDs. Some are paid, but most are free. RealDVD falls in the former category. What makes it worth paying $49.99 for the initial installation and $19.99 per additional PC? Well, the software does its job for one, ripping DVDs easily and quickly without much hassle, providing links to find out more information about the movie itself, methods of parental control and other such. In short, it works as advertised. However there’s one more important point: RealNetworks claims that the product complies with DVD Copy Control Association's license agreement, therefore making any hard-disk copies of DVDs you own completely legal.

Not everyone agrees though, unsurprisingly. The MPAA argues that RealNetworks, through the production and distribution of RealDVD, is violating its Content Scramble System (CSS) license by permitting RealDVD users to circumvent CSS.

Due to the legal trouble that started immediately after the product was released, RealNetworks have removed the product’s download link from their site, replacing it instead with this message:

"Due to recent legal action taken by the Hollywood movie studios against us, RealDVD is temporarily unavailable. Rest assured, we will continue to work diligently to provide you with software that allows you to make a legal copy of your DVDs for your own use."

The legal action in question consists of a complaint filed by the Motion Picture Association of America with the District Court of Los Angeles, seeking an injunction against RealNetworks just hours after RealDVD was released. The complaint is based on the claim that RealDVD violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

RealNetworks filed papers with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in a pre-emptive strike of sorts hours before the MPAA complaint asking the court to rule that the RealDVD software does comply with the DVD Copy Control Association's license agreement. Defending its legal stand, Real Networks cited a lawsuit lost by the DVD Copy Control Association versus Kaleidascape, a similar DVD ripping software, which the trial court ruled allowable for distribution.

The DVD Copy Control is a non-profit organization that licenses CSS to DVD hardware manufacturers. CSS is implemented into DVD drives, disks and related products to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution of DVD copyrighted material.