A few weeks back RealNetworks unveiled RealDVD, a $30 program designed to legally allow ripping DVDs.  The legal part might be a bit of a stretch seeing as Real has sued the CCA and the MPAA has sued Real back.  While press about the idea of paying to rip your DVDs while keeping them protected has been unanimously poor, people need to keep an open mind about this when it comes to Media Center and other commercial products.

Several years ago I posted about the idea of enabling streaming DVDs using Microsoft’s WMDRM to protect the DVDs.  The concept is the exact same with RealDVD.  If RealNetworks can win their suit against the MPAA and CCA, the door is even more wide open for Microsoft to do exactly the same and rip DVDs wrapped in their DRM (maybe part of what this patent is about).  This could enable streaming to any device including Media Center Extenders and (possibility) Zunes, or maybe not as Microsoft has a hard time finding a good business case to do any of the work for such features.  Even if Microsoft doesn't jump on, I've heard that Real is also interested in developing a Media Center plug-in for RealDVD which could be interesting if they do it right (not sure Real could do that).

Another interesting bit involving ripping of disc, AACS has still not hit their final version which was expected over the summer.  Still no word if the final version, whenever finished, will include support for Managed Copy.