I might try again, yes. I think in this case it likely an NDA would cover
parts of the source code.

The real thing that I need are IDL files for the interface specifications.
These would become a part of the source code, directly.

I guess the only possible reason they can have for protecting this IP is to
help protect the business of selling programmers, both their and third party
ones.

Jon

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Harrison [mailto:mike@WHITEWING.CO.UK]
Sent: 31 March 2004 11:14
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: No help from Microchip for MPLAB Xwisp Integration :(


On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 08:35:37 +0100, you wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I emailed microchip last week asking for COM interface information
>needed to implement a COM wrapper around Xwisp (or some other
>programming tool) so that MPLAB can drive it. They mailed be back this
>morning:-
>
>"The MPLAB IDE COM interfaces are proprietary Intellectual Property and
>are only released after a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is in place
>and a business review has been performed.  To start the NDA process,
>please put together a business proposal and send it to..."
>
>Which I though was a little dissapointing. NDA-protected IP is unlikely
>to be releasable Open Source :(
>
>
>Now I will have to contemplate reverse engineering :O
>
>Jon

I never cease to be amazed by this sort of  rubbish that big companies come
out with - what could they possibly lose by making this information
generally available.....

Might be worth talking to your local FAE, who may know who to contact to get
things moving.
The reply you got may just be a stock reply to deter timewasters.

I'm not sure that NDA and open source are incompatible - the NDA is likely
to only cover any documentation they send you - I've never seen an NDA that
would cover code written using info disclosed under an NDA.

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList
mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList
mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu