>And I will yet again assert my seemingly unpopular position on copy
>protection.  All it does is helps the bad guys.
>
>I write something nifty based around a microcontroller with copy
>protection.  Joe Knockoff in someplace where the laws are ethically
>challenged breaks the copy protection (and if he wants in bad enough
>he will), and duplicates my code.  He then proceeds to ship 500 times
>my volume for 1/3 the cost because of labor cost differences and puts
>me out of business.  Being the honest person I am I have no clue how
>to defeat his copy protection  to check so I lose big bucks.
>
>I write the same thing on a micro with no copy protection.  He trivially
>copies my code, and starts shipping his knock-offs back to the US.  At
>this point I grab one of his units, check and find the copyright on
>the chip still or compare his source to mine.  Immediately I get a
>lawyer, an injunction against them shipping widgets, and a lawsuit to
>recover my losses.  I now have evidence.

        Given that you are relying on copyright to protect your code
        then the issue of hardware code protection is irrelevant.

        If you have written a novel in English and someone else
        translates it into Spanish :) then they are in breach
        of your copyright, and you can prevent distribution of
        the translation and sue for damages.

        Likewise, Knockoff and Co doesn't avoid copyright by
        taking your software and re-translating or re-encoding
        (indeed, encrypting) it.

        You simply get a court order requiring them to release
        their source code for inspection by your lawyers.

        And there's the rub...

                My basic position is that if you are relying
                on the law for success in the marketplace then
                you have already lost.

                If you need to call in the lawyers to prevent
                someone else copying and selling your ideas
                then you may as well pack up and go home.

                Life's too short.

        For example, if they are in a foreign jurisdiction you
        probably can't stop them shipping units.  You can only
        stop someone importing them.  Who are you going to sue
        to recover losses?  Does that entity have funds that
        you can recover?  How do you stop the principals of the
        company opening up shop on Monday under a new name, etc...

        I suggest that a hardware solution of uncertain effect-
        iveness is better than a legal solution that can't be
        enforced (which is most of them).

___Bob