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RealNetworks Could be Key to Media Center DVD Streaming - Chris Lanier's Blog

RealNetworks Could be Key to Media Center DVD Streaming

A few weeks back RealNetworks unveiled RealDVD, a $30 program designed to legally allow ripping DVDs.  The legal part might be a bit of a stretch seeing as Real has sued the CCA and the MPAA has sued Real back.  While press about the idea of paying to rip your DVDs while keeping them protected has been unanimously poor, people need to keep an open mind about this when it comes to Media Center and other commercial products.

Several years ago I posted about the idea of enabling streaming DVDs using Microsoft’s WMDRM to protect the DVDs.  The concept is the exact same with RealDVD.  If RealNetworks can win their suit against the MPAA and CCA, the door is even more wide open for Microsoft to do exactly the same and rip DVDs wrapped in their DRM (maybe part of what this patent is about).  This could enable streaming to any device including Media Center Extenders and (possibility) Zunes, or maybe not as Microsoft has a hard time finding a good business case to do any of the work for such features.  Even if Microsoft doesn't jump on, I've heard that Real is also interested in developing a Media Center plug-in for RealDVD which could be interesting if they do it right (not sure Real could do that).

Another interesting bit involving ripping of disc, AACS has still not hit their final version which was expected over the summer.  Still no word if the final version, whenever finished, will include support for Managed Copy.

Published Sunday, October 05, 2008 4:17 PM by chrisl
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Comments

# re: RealNetworks Could be Key to Media Center DVD Streaming

I think we would have to see a favorable to Kaleidoscope ruling and a ruling favorable to Real Networks before any of this could be implemented.  Any ruling by the courts favorable to one and unfavorable to the other would have to litigated before the Supreme Court to have any bearing.  I realize that the Kaleidoscope ruling was based on that company's agreement with the CCA, and Real Networks is based on something different, but both appear to based on the CCA contract policies.

Sunday, October 05, 2008 5:40 PM by OffRail1

# HD DVD Vista archiving

While HD DVD is dead, I remember at a CES a few years back MS and/or Gates talked about and showed archiving HD DVD titles within Vista for later playback. Not sure if that was approved and a precedent was set. Of course the studios response makes it quite clear the DVD isn't dead.

Sunday, October 05, 2008 6:47 PM by Dave Zatz

# re: RealNetworks Could be Key to Media Center DVD Streaming

I agree that it is interesting to test the legality of the drm.  But this does not add any new features.  You can already do this with all free software like OML. This would have been cool in 2003, not 2008.

Sunday, October 05, 2008 6:53 PM by Kevin

# re: RealNetworks Could be Key to Media Center DVD Streaming

Dave: That's the Managed Copy reference from above.  It will apply to Blu-ray, but as such will not be natively supported by Vista.

Kevin: That's true from a tech standpoint, but you need to look at it from a larger perspective.  If Microsoft can do it legally (eg. Real wins the lawsuits), then it (in theory) could be integrated within Media Center from ripping to playback on Extenders.  OML and My Movies still can't provide that functionality to the t.

Sunday, October 05, 2008 8:59 PM by chrisl

# re: RealNetworks Could be Key to Media Center DVD Streaming

Microsoft will do no such thing. It is foolish think so. Microsoft will do what is in the best interest of its bottom line. DVD ripping helps them in no way. It cannibalizes digital movie sales. Media Center will remain hamstrung until a mainstream competitor forces them to implement community oriented features. It is irresponsible to continue to elevate the hopes of this community, when there is zero chance of this actually happening.

Monday, October 06, 2008 8:58 AM by Wormhoudt

# re: RealNetworks Could be Key to Media Center DVD Streaming

OML is pretty close.  And quite frankly, Microsoft has all but abandoned development for Vista MCE, or so it seems.  

Charlie over at Microsoft also seemed clueless in his post about streaming DVDs and that there is no need for it.  I can't see Microsoft ever spending the time to do this.  When did I become so pessimistic?

Monday, October 06, 2008 1:33 PM by Kevin

# re: RealNetworks Could be Key to Media Center DVD Streaming

Wormhoudt: I don't disagree with you, however Microsoft _must_ implement DVD streaming for Media Center to be successful in any market.

Monday, October 06, 2008 3:17 PM by chrisl

# re: RealNetworks Could be Key to Media Center DVD Streaming

I thought Microsoft gave up on Media Center.  

Saturday, October 11, 2008 7:12 PM by Tim Bevill