The new RealPlayer will not download or record video that is DRM infected but will download everything else, placing it somewhere between headache and law suit for a bevy of content creators.
A number of programs are already available that provide a similar service yet this is the first time this level of functionailty has been offered in a high user base product. The ability to rip online videos is not new. The free downloadable video player will allows users to save and organize video files in all major formats including Flash, QuickTime, RealMedia and Window Media and will support video ripping from sites such as YouTube, Google, Yahoo!, Brightcove, AOL and The New York Times. RealNetworks have annonuced a new version of RealPlayer that includes one-click video ripping.