Lpc2000

Hi, 

> I was not thinking of this reason when I asked the question.  However,
> after grading, the devices are typically permanantly 'fused' to
> reflect their capabilities.
> 
> In the case of LPC, it appears that the grading is reversible.  The
> only reason for 'soft' grading I can think of is for purposes of
> competive pricing.  If this were the case, could Philips block the
> publication of discovered features relating to up/down grading device
> capabilities?

Could they block it?  Probably not, you can opt to publish and be
damned.  As you've alerted them via this list, then one option they have
is to take out an injunction (or similar) against publication of that
information, if they can get one.  I am not a lawyer, and I have no real
expertise in that area, but I believe an injunction needs to be issued
by a judge after a convincing argument in the UK, and it's possibly the
same elsewhere.

I'm not sure of the legality of reverse engineering a device's firmware
and operation, but when I have purchased LPC devices or boards with them
on, I have not been subject to a license agreement relating to the
silicon, so I think reverse engineering them is fine.  If your discovery
is not covered by any license agreement you have signed or undertaken,
then I believe the information can be made public.  However, I do not
believe that this will stop a legal challenge to be resolved in the
courts, should Philips wish it.

Again, just my opinion.

--
Paul Curtis, Rowley Associates Ltd  http://www.rowley.co.uk
CrossWorks for MSP430, ARM, AVR and now MAXQ processors