So Apple scored a coup by securing the exclusive rights to distribute the Star Wars: Episode I trailer in QuickTime-only format, right? At least, that's what we've been hearing, and that's what implied on Apple's download page: "This online version is available exclusively in QuickTime, Apple's industry-leading digital video software." Unfortunately, it looks like exclusivity can be tough to enforce.

As pointed out by faithful viewer Charles Dorner, when he downloaded the finally-final version of Real Networks' competing streaming video product Real Player G2, he found himself transported to a page of links to RealVideo media to try. Says he, "I was extremely surprised to find links to unreleased trailers for Episode I, and the other trailers in Real Player format." Well, perhaps we're just a little jaded, but we can't say we're exactly surprised that Real's fighting back. True, they may not have infringed any copyrights themselves, since they weren't the ones who re-encoded the trailers and reposted them for download, but it's at least noteworthy that they're directing their customers toward illicit data. In Charles' words, "I find it extremely appalling that this company would knowingly provide access to illegal materials." Again, though we're not so much "appalled" as we are "unfazed," we do find it interesting that Real is taking this approach to fighting QuickTime's increased popularity and the ten million downloads of the Episode I trailer.

Now, you may have heard that the producers of the movie recently sent a warning letter to some 700 ISPs warning them about the possible repercussions of hosting copyright-infringing material; the New York Times has an article about that, if you missed it. Their focus is on hopefully preventing people from sneaking camcorders into the theaters, taping the movie, and then posting the taped footage on the 'net, but one would imagine that they might be interested to know that unauthorized versions of the trailers and commercials are already available. On the other hand, we tried to view several of the Real-format videos, and we were unable to get any of the five or so we tried to work, so maybe the point is moot; we never had any difficulty viewing the official trailers at Apple's site. Just one more reason for Real to be worried?