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LOS ANGELES — Hollywood’s six major movie studios on Tuesday sued RealNetworks Inc. to prevent it from distributing DVD copying software they said would allow consumers to “rent, rip and return” movies or even copy friends’ DVD collections outright.
The studios stand to lose key revenue from the sale of DVDs, estimated by Adams Media Research at $15 billion in the U.S. this year, if consumers stop buying DVDs and instead copy rental discs from outlets like Netflix and Blockbuster.
Real has said the software enables DVDs to be copied onto up to five computers — with the purchase of up to four extra program licenses and does not alter the discs’ encryption technology meant to prevent wide-scale piracy.
