AVR-Chat

Well, I am not so sure about ALL of the items on that litany of 
legal problems.

First, if he is changing the layout to a new uC and deleting other 
hardware, then it will require re-routing many of the traces.  So, 
the board itself will not be the same.

The schematic is probably not patentable because most of the 
hardware in the schematic is well known, and may even have been 
specified by the uC manufacturer.  I.E. Public domain

Intellectual property.... maybe sort of....  Like the issue of "look 
and feel".  

If he makes it for his own use, then what are the lost profits?  
Maybe zero.  Punitive damages.  Punishment for what exactly?

Taking someones patented/copyrighted idea and then extensively 
modifying it is not illegal and happens all the time.  The question 
of degree of "extensive" is the rub.  The developers idea if 
"copying" may not be the judge's idea.  

IMHO, changing processors and deleting hardware may be sufficient 
for defining it not as "copying" and instead classify it 
as "inspired by".  

But he DID say "copy" IN HIS OWN WORDS.  Pretty damning evidence.

Reusing the code would be really bad, if he sold it.  Pretty bad if 
he just ripped it off for his own use.  But he may have had to buy 
one of the originals in order to get the code.  That might be 
sufficient license to use one (and only one) version of the code at 
a time.

-Tony
"Admit nothing.... Blame others"


--- In AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com, "Roy E. Burrage" <RBurrage@b...> 
wrote:
> 
>        Patent infringement
>        Copyright infringement
>        Intellectual property rights
>        Lost profits
>        Punitive damages
> 
> These for starters.  There may be others.
> 
> 
> REB
> 
> 
> Javier Fiasche wrote:
> 
> > Hi  all, i have a question.
> > I have to copy a board that has an 80c31and a 2732 external 
program 
> > memory. I am thinking on doing the same board but with a 89c51 
and no 
> > external memory. Anyone knows if 80c31 an d 80c51 are fully 
> > compatible?. I do not have access to the code, just the bin file 
read 
> > from the memory. What problems can occur?
> > Thanks.
> > Javier
> >