Skip to main content

News

Wed, 10 Aug 2005 Real reveals real Apple legal threat

Macworld staff

  • Email to a friend
  • Print this article
  • Bookmark this page
  • RSS feed

Real Networks has admitted its move to make tracks acquired through its US-only Rhapsody music service puts the company at risk of a legal suit by Apple.

In the company's Securities and Exchange report on its financial performance which was filed yesterday, the company warns: "If Apple decides to commence litigation against us in order to prevent interoperation with its products, we may be forced to spend money defending their legal challenge, which could harm our operating results."

Question of the day!

Mark Hattersley
Editor in Chief

Do you use Adobe Photoshop with a Wacom tablet?

Question of the day!

Do you use Adobe Photoshop with a Wacom tablet?

% of Macworld readers agree with you

Yes
TBC
No
TBC

How does a Wacom tablet improve the Photoshop experience?

124 characters remaining

Follow the conversation at @TabletChat

paintings & illustrations, mostly, which i upload to flickr.RT @fragmentedm

I draw manga/anime characters. I also do graphic design and photography.RT @spialelo

Yes. I usually put them up on my #deviantart account for feedback on how to improve.RT @spialelo

Real created its digital rights management translation technology, which it calls Harmony to enable consumers to securely transfer purchased music to digital music devices, including iPods and Windows Media-protected devices.

"Harmony is designed to enable consumers to transfer music purchased from our RealPlayer Music Store to a wide variety of portable music," the company said.

The management report confirms a risk that: "Apple will continue to modify its technology to "break" the interoperability that Harmony provides to consumers, which Apple has done in connection with the release of certain new products. If Apple chooses to continue this course of action, Harmony may no longer work with Apple's products, which could harm our business and reputation, or we may be forced to incur additional development costs to refine Harmony to make it interoperate again."

Real adds, "although we believe our Harmony technology is legal, there is no assurance that a court would agree with our position."

Real revealed it expects to spend $16 million this year in its litigation against Microsoft, which it accuses of using its OS dominance to promote its rival media software, Windows Media. It spent $11 million on the case last year.

Email A Friend

Email this article to a friend or colleague:



PLEASE NOTE: Your name is used only to let the recipient know who sent the story, and in case of transmission error. Both your name and the recipient's name and address will not be used for any other purpose.

<<prev article | back to news index | next article>>

Latest News


More news...