Carlsbad, Calif. - RealNetworks announced on Thursday that the newest version of its RealPlayer will contain a feature that allows users to download any video they find online for later viewing via the RealPlayer, and even burn them to DVD and CD.

The new RealPlayer will feature browser integration that causes a "download this video" button to appear floating next to video seen on thousands of websites.

The video-recording option will work with most video formats, including the Flash-based videos on YouTube, and those played in Windows Media, QuickTime and Real's own video format.

While this could potentially cause problems for copyrighted videos, Real said that the technology will respect copy-protected videos.

"The technology we have enabled is for personal use, and that is within copyright laws," RealNetworks general manager Ben Rotholtz told Reuters. "But we honor any copy protection."

A public beta of the new RealPlayer is slated to launch sometime in June.

Related Links:
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070531/lath082a.html?.v=1

http://blogs.business2.com/beta/2007/05/realplayer_plus.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070531/tc_nm/realnetworks_realplayer_dc_1

http://www.realplayer.com