StopBadware.org, the organization that tracks and labels the programs that fail to respect user choices, has released a report about two versions of Real Player, the multimedia player created and promoted by RealNetworks.

StopBadware.org said the RealPlayer 10.5 and RealPlayer 11 were classified as badware, because the fist version it fails to accurately and completely discloses the fact that it installs advertising software on the user's computer, while the second do not discloses the fact that it installs Rhapsody Player Engine software

“The advertising software bundled with RealPlayer is misleadingly called a 'message center', and is described incompletely and inconspicuously in the EULA as software designed to provide useful software updates. When RealPlayer 10.5 is installed, the advertising features of this 'message center' are enabled by default for users who choose not to register their personal information with RealNetworks after the software is installed” said StopBadware.org in an advisory posted on its website.

In response to StopBadware.org claims, Ryan Lukin, PR manager for RealNetworks said that the messages served through Message Center can’t be classified as advertising, as they are mainly news and product updates.  

He also said that RealPlayer 11's failure to uninstall the Rhapsody Player Engine will be addressed in a future update.

Meanwhile, StopBadware recommended that users do not install the tested versions of RealPlayer, unless the user is comfortable with the identified software behaviors.