RealNetworks Offers Legal DVD Ripping: Really!

It's not that DVD ripping hasn't been done before. It has, plenty of times, including products such as AnyDVD or or DVDFab.

Besides the obvious (meaning ripping the DVD so you can make a copy), ripping has other advantages: lower power consumption, no need to drag the DVD around, and (hopefully) a more reliable copy than an optical disc.

But these products have always removed the DRM from the image, however, making their use not necessarily legal, and putting users on the wrong side of the DMCA.

On Monday, however, Real Networks announced a new product: RealDVD, which purports to make DVD ripping legal for the first time, by not just maintaining the original DRM on the disc, but adding yet another layer.

In their press release announcing the new product, Rob Glaser, chairman and CEO of RealNetworks said:

"RealDVD gives consumers a great new way to get more out of their DVDs. RealDVD continues in Real's tradition of consumer innovation over the past 15 years alongside RealAudio, RealJukebox, RealArcade, Rhapsody, and, most recently, RealPlayer 11."

Real Networks is relying on the Kaleidescape decision, which stated that there is nothing in the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD CCA) licensing agreement that prohibits the development of products that allow users to copy their DVDs.

Quite a few people avoid RealPlayer in general (including myself), so this might be a harder sell than they think. However, here are the pitched facts about the product:

• It's not available yet. It will be available for $29.99 (sale price; normally $49.99) from Real and Amazon.com later this month.
  

• The copy can be transferred to up to 5 other Windows PCs, but only by buying additional copies of the software for $20 each.
  

• Yes, you read that right, Windows PCs.
  

• No Blu-ray support yet (AnyDVD and DVDFab already provide this support).
  

• No compression. You get a full-size copy of the DVD, which means you will take up to 4 - 9 GB.
  

• Rip time is 10 - 40 minutes.

So, here are the questions and comments:

• There are other DVD-ripping products on the market that remove DRM. Would you be willing to pay, admittedly less during the sale period, for this product, since it purports to be legal?
  

• The word purports is important. If the Kaleidescape decision is reversed it won't be. Not that Real Networks has ever backed down from a fight.

• Lack of compression is a pain, although if you want it in all its original glory ...
  

• Windows-only with a Mac version possibly (not committed) next year. No Linux plans as yet.

• There's going to be (once it's available) a 30-day fully-functional trial.

So, what say you readers? Will the ability to be legal (at least for now!) draw you to this product from products that are already available, which remove DRM?