RealNetworks (NSDQ: RNWK) chairman and CEO Rob Glaser debuted on the company blog this afternoon with his explanation of how his company and the MPAA wound up on a collision course in the courts over RealDVD. To review the bidding, Real launched its new RealDVD software app today, designed to allow consumers to copy DVDs onto PCs. Real says it’s legal and that it protects “legitimate interests.”

“This morning we were forced to file a lawsuit against six major U.S. movie studios to ensure that nothing gets in the way of us providing RealDVD to consumers. These studios and their trade association (the MPAA) have filed suit against us trying to stop RealDVD. As a company with a nearly 15 year track record of innovation that’s both great for consumers and fully respectful of intellectual property, we’re disappointed that the movie studios thought they had to file lawsuits. We began active discussions with the studios even before we announced RealDVD and up until last night were optimistic that we could find common ground with them without having to resort to the legal system.”

We’ve included the filings by both sides in our coverage:
—Updated: Real Files Pre-Emptive Lawsuit Against Studios; MPAA Asks For Restraining Order On RealDVD
—MPAA Files Counter Suit Against RealNetworks; ‘RealDVD Should Be Called StealDVD’

• MPAA Files Counter Suit Against RealNetworks; ‘RealDVD Should Be Called StealDVD’
• Updated: Real Files Pre-Emptive Lawsuit Against Studios; MPAA Asks For Restraining Order On RealDVD