VCR taping part II

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I thought I was in a time warp reading this article that RealNetworks had pulled their RealDVD copying software pending a judges ruling.  It seems several of the major Hollywood studios have asked the courts to stop distribution of the software because it will break or bypass the DRM-copyright protection (pronounced you can't copy it, not copyright) built into DVDs.

Two things on this come to my mind.  First of all, I am old enough to remember when Hollywood said the same thing about taping movies on VCR tapes.  The thought of taping off of the TV or of buying a tape and making copies for all of your friends scared Hollywood to death.  We heard all kinds of stories about how this was going to be the death of the movie business.  What happened was that the VCR tape business became a huge money maker for the studios.  An entire new revenue stream, often bigger than than what a film drew in theatres was born.  Despite all of the doom and gloom, VCR tapes was the best thing that ever happened to the movie business.  I don't see any reason that DVDs will be any different.

Secondly, even if ReadDVD is stopped from selling this software, do you really think they are the only ones? Anyone who is serious about copying DVDs can find software on the Internet to do this.  I think the movie industry, like the music industry is shoveling sand against the tide with DRM and anti-copying protection.  These industries need to figure out how to capitalize on the viral nature of copying media and monetize it.  Picking on RealNetworks about this a whack-a-mole game.  As soon as RealNetworks is back in the hole, another one will pop up.

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