A federal judge has barred RealNetworks from flogging software that allows consumers to copy DVDs to their computer hard drives, pending a full trial.

Walt Disney, Sony and Universal Studios sued RealNetworks in 2008, saying its RealDVD device was an illegal pirating tool. RealNetworks has said its product legally meets growing consumer demand to convert their DVDs to digital form for convenient storage and viewing. RealNetworks lawyers have argued that RealDVD is equipped with piracy protections that limit a DVD owner to making a single copy. They also said the device provides consumers with a legitimate way to back up copies of movies legally purchased.

But US District Court Judge Marilyn Hall Patel backed the movie studios in granting a preliminary injunction against RealDVD. She said that the technology allowed consumers renting and buying DVDs to violate copyright laws. Patel said RealNetworks failed to show that the RealDVD products were going to be used by consumers for legitimate purposes. Funny, if that was the case we thought arms sales in the US would be banned.

In October 2008, Patel temporarily barred sales of RealDVD after the $29.99 product was on the market for a few days. At the time, the judge said it appeared the software violated federal law against digital piracy, and she ordered detailed court filings and the trial to better understand how RealDVD works.

It will all be sorted out in a trail but it does not bode well for Real.