RealNetworks Sues Start-Up Streambox

RealNetworks Inc., the leader in broadcasting video and audio via the Internet, is suing Seattle-area start-up Streambox over software that, among other things, allows users to copy RealNetworks’ files and convert them into other formats. The suit, which accuses Streambox of copyright infringement and unfair competition, is the latest court battle involving the Internet entertainment industry, which continues to struggle with worries over piracy. A federal judge has temporarily barred Streambox from distributing the software in question until a hearing Jan. 7. RealNetworks’ software is the de facto standard for broadcasting large audio and video files over the Internet, a process called “streaming.”