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The bad blood between digital media rivals Apple Computer and RealNetworks has reached a boiling point.

Just days after RealNetworks launched a new digital rights management translation technology that would allow the secure transfer of purchased music to Apple's wildly popular iPod, the device maker fired back.

"We are stunned that RealNetworks has adopted the tactics and ethics of a hacker to break into the iPod, and we are investigating the implications of their actions under the DMCA and other laws," Apple said in a statement.

The computer maker, which dominates the market for digital music sales with its iTunes service, also threatened to block access to iPods that connect to Real's software and technology.

"We strongly caution RNWK [RealNetworks] and their customers that when we update our iPod software from time to time it is highly likely that RNWK's Harmony technology will cease to work with current and future iPods," Apple said.

Real's new Harmony system lets users shift their purchased music from one media device to another, across different codecs, DRM systems and platforms. In addition to all four generations of Apple's iPod, Harmony works with digital media players from Creative, iRiver, RCA, Rio, Samsung and palmOne.

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