RealNetworks DVD ripping software RealDVD is has come under fire in a San Francisco court to decide if users have the right to download a digital copy of DVD’s to their computer.

Studio bosses have already won a temporary ban on RealNetworks peddling the product, but now the final decision is to be made at a hearing with the same judge that closed down the granddaddy of file-sharing sites - Napster in 2000.

RealNetworks argue that the copies cannot be distributed illegally and are provided for backup and convenience only, however studios are concerned that the software will encourage a rent-rip-return culture and impact heavily the $20 billion annual DVD market.

Interestingly, studios have also started developing and marketing competitor products to RealDVD which many have criticized as undermining the studios own allegations against RealDVD and the whole point of the court case.