AVR-Chat

--- In AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com, "Graham Davies" <YahooGroups@e...> 
wrote:
> --- In AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com, Brian Dean <bsd@b...> wrote:
> 
> > ... do you plan to do [an inexpensive
> > JTAG device] that supports the JTAGICE
> > MkII protocol?
> 
> No, I'm afraid I don't. There are several reasons. One is that my 
> personal circumstances have changed and I no longer have time for 
new 
> product development. Also, I can't see any way to do this without 
> buying the Atmel unit and reverse engineering it. Maybe someone 
who is 
> less squeamish about intellectual rights will do this.
> 
> Graham.

Hmmm, well, I would think that "reverse engineering"  would be 
reproducing the output for each possible input, treating the 
original device as a "black box".  

But when you open the box and examine the contents and reproduce 
them, then that is "copying".  

I think "reverse engineering" without cheating and looking at the 
working parts inside is fair and legal.  "Copying" is not.

You could get into hot water if you accidentally create a device 
that is so good that it looks copied.

Sometimes there is really only one way to skin the cat, and when you 
end up with the same solution, then it is just good engineering.  No 
one owns good engineering.  But you might have to prove it in court.

Keeping notes in a dated notebook would be very useful in court.  
Also useful to record your thoughts and sketches/diagrams along the 
way.  I always loved those lab books with horizontal and vertical 
lines.  I have to get me some more of those.

Right now I am reverse engineering a rally computer.  Copying is not 
at all an issue here because the basic hardware is so different.  
The original is Z-80 and mine is AVR.  The original was programmed 
in ASM, and I am doing it in C.

So all I am really reproducing is the look and feel.  This is hard 
to pursue legally.   Not that it would ever come to that.  I do not 
plan on selling these things, and I already spoke with the 
designer/manufacturer of the original and he had no problems with my 
project.  Especially since I told him I would give him anything I 
developed if he wanted it.

-Tony

-Tony