Dearest Picsters:


We recently sent a PIC design to a Korean manufacturer to build.  They came
back with a vastly changed design, including the processor.  Here's what
they say:


>. The CPU is changed from Microchip's PIC16CXX series to Micon's
MDT1020/2020
> series. The new IC is from a Taiwan IC company and
> is 100% PIC-compatible.

"100% comaptible" although the chip we sent over has no onboard brownout
protection, although the Micon chip does.   Phooey.

My Microchip Rep said, a while back, that these knockoffs "May not be legal
in the US because of patent violations."  Of course, he would LIKE them to
be illegal so he has less competition.  Is he right?

My question is - is it legal to import the Micon MDT1020 in the US?

My second question - should I hang my Korean supplier by his TOES or his
NECK?