RSSRealNetworks Claims Victory In Streambox Case
By Nate Mook | Published January 19, 2000, 2:46 PM
RealNetworks has started beating the publicity drum over a legal copyright case it said it has won against Streambox for the firm's Streambox VCR and Ferret technologies.
RealNetworks, arguably the dominant player in the Internet audio- visual streaming technology, said it has a preliminary injunction against Streambox for its allegedly infringing technology.
However, IT legal cases of this type are notoriously complex and
lengthy, meaning that it could be some time before the case reaches a
conclusion. In the meantime, Streambox has an injunction against it
to prevent the promotion or sale of its two technologies.
Legal precedent says that if the full case subsequently goes against RealNetworks, then Streambox can file for lost earnings against the firm, Newsbytes notes.
Specifically, RealNetworks said that Streambox is may not market or distribute the Streambox VCR, which allegedly "records live streams against the wishes of copyright holders," and the Streambox Ferret, which "interferes with the appearance and functionality of the RealPlayer."
RealNetworks Vice President Alex Alben in a statement said that he is pleased the court has "upheld the basic principle that it is illegal to circumvent copy protection mechanisms in order to record streams against the wishes of copyright holders."
RealNetworks, he said, brought the lawsuit to protect the copyright of content holders who use RealNetworks' software and systems to provide their content in a format that is protected from duplication.
Newsbytes notes that RealNetworks, which has just started shipping its latest player, RealPlayer 7, to its millions of users around the world, is fighting an ongoing battle against streaming interception.
This is because, although it is not normally possible to download and save a RealVideo presentation without the originator's permission, there are several freeware utilities in circulation that do just this.
This causes problems for RealNetworks, since much of its technology is paid for by stream material providers who use the RealVideo software to encode and transmit their presentations over the Internet.
RealNetworks' may be found at http://www.realnetworks.com.
Reported by Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com.
Microsoft makes a better, FREE streaming video / audio system.. i
don't see why realnetworks is still trying to sell their stuff. It gets in the way of actually using the 'free' versions of their software.
Score: 0
|It's a pity that Real Networks has the dominant streaming media format (not counting mp3). Not only are they run by an ex-Microsoft General (who must have sold his soul to not have Gates crush him) but their business practices are shady. Every release of RealPlayer becomes more bloated with useless features and tougher to find the free version on their web site. Plus the whole deal with the GUID keeping track of anything played through Real Player and Real Jukebox should scare all of us.
Score: 0
|You speak of the GUID issue in Real products. Didn't they post a patch when that was brought out? And don't you have a choice in enabling it in future versions. (Real player 7)
If you weren't aware Microsoft Windows 98 , Office 97, Office 2000, Windows Media Player and Apple Quicktime have GUIDs.
As far as I know Microsoft or Apple haven't apologized for their GUIDs or a way to disable it. I would call THEM evil.
GUIDs are using to keep track of users obviously. And stats of "streaming media players" are big things these company "brag" about.
Check out Streaming Media West Conference archives, Broadcast.com president talks about GUIDs. http://www.streamingmedia.com
Next time be better informed on the issues.
Score: 0
|I agree.
Real Networks have always appeared to be overly dominated by marketing types. Their web site is just a whole bunch of ads for their useless RealPlayer Plus. I've lost count of how many people have asked me "Why do I have to pay $29.95 for RealPlayer? I thought it was free.". I feel sorry for the people that have been sucked into to paying hard cash for a bunch of completely useless addons for RealPlayer (graphic equaliser and picture controls? purleeeeeese!).
As for this StartCenter crap, why the hell do I need a Tray icon that wastes screen realestate (basically it's an ad) so that their program can load a little faster? Get the hell off of my desktop Real - you're not welcome AT ALL.
The sooner people wake up to the fact that someone will ALWAYS find a way around client-side copy protection, the quicker we'll all have to stop paying for these lawsuits. By the time the decision is made on this one, the software will be all over the net anyway (it already is).
Score: 0
|How can they complain about it interfering with RealPlayers functionality? If people want to keep RealPlayer the way it is, then they don't have to get the program. I'm really hoping RealNetwork loses this case!
Score: 0
|