A court case will decide the fate of a new set top box. “Facet,” a set-top box from RealNetworks is hanging with its future which depends on the result of the court case against RealNetworks.

RealNetworks already have a contract in place with an OEM to sell the Facet technology. If everything goes well now, then they may soon have something similar to TiVo for DVDs.

Judge Marilyn Hall Patel holds the fate of Facet, of who will rule in a case this week between Real versus the top Hollywood studios. The case is against RealNetworks and RealDVD, code-named “Vegas,” which launched last year before the other party stopped sales with a restraining order. Facet uses the same technology and has been in development nearly as long.

According to Hollywood, both Facet and the RealDVD software are nothing but another illegal DVD ripper.

According to a spokesperson, Facet’s price will be less than $300. Now what happens to Facet?

If Judge Patel rules for RealNetworks without conditions, then Facet will be available by Christmas; if not, the company may redesign the box to include any additional restrictions.

Facet is a 500-Gbyte drive and can hold 70 to 75 DVDs.  Real chief executive, Rob Glaser showed off Facet. It looks like a box of size that of a DVD player with RealNetworks logo on it. While booting, it displayed a simple overview screen which had images of the covers of DVDs. RealNetowrks has a special feature the ability to load an entire boxed set of DVDs. It also remembers on which disc and episode to resume playback once the viewer comes back.

When someone loads a disc to be copied, the screen shows a nagware screen, Real’s one defense against piracy.

“RealDVD should only be used with discs you own,” the screen said. “If you own the disc press play.”