Court: DVD ripping software 'illegal pirating tool'

A federal judge has ruled in a closely watched legal battle that RealNetworks' DVD copying software appears to be an illegal pirating tool.

U.S. District Court Judge Marilyn Hall Patel on Tuesday kept in place her order barring the Seattle-based firm from selling its software until she resolves the legal battle over copyright protections between the company and Hollywood studios.

The judge said it's likely that the studios will prevail with their argument that the software violates a federal anti-piracy law.

The $29.99 software lets consumers copy DVDs to computer hard drives.

The studios fear that if RealNetworks is allowed to sell its software, consumers would not be willing to pay retail for movies on DVD that can be rented cheaply, copied and returned.