RealNetworks wins ban on ‘streaming VCR’

Updated RealNetworks has won the latest round in its legal tussle with streaming media 'video recorder' software specialist Streambox. Following a setback ten days ago, when US District Judge Marsha J Pechman refused to grant RealNetworks a preliminary injunction against Streambox products on the grounds she needed more time to decide the issue, RealNetworks has now been granted that injunction. RealNetworks had already been granted a temporary ban on Streambox's Streambox VCR, which converts realtime streamed RealMedia data into discrete files that can be played back at a later date, Ripper, which converts RealMedia files into MP3 format, and Ferret, which locates streaming media channels. RealMedia is a proprietary file format. But the victory was mixed -- the Judge threw out a request to ban Ripper, which Streambox is now selling again from its Web site. The latest ban prevents Streambox marketing and selling VCR and Ferret product until RealNetworks' copyright infringement case against it comes to trial and that trial is completed. That point is unlikely to be reached before this time next year. RealNetworks alleges Streambox's software is harmful to its business, and infringes both its copyrights and intellectual property rights. Streambox claims its software is legitimate and doesn't violate any of RealNetworks' RealPlayer licensing terms. ®