On Monday 07 August 2006 17:52, James Newton, Host wrote:
> > I have determined at this point that I can reproduce
> > equivalent functionalities of the DS2450, DS18B20, and others
> > using a PIC.  It will take me some weekends of
> > development/coding, but I feel it will be best in the long
> > run and should eventually recover the costs.  I do like the
> > 1-wire concept, but now need to figure out if changing the
> > specifics of the protocol and associated timing will still
> > violate their IP.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > -Neil.
>
> I understand that you may wish to do this as a "for profit" project, and
> this assumes that it could actually be done, but if you were to "open
> source" a design, there is effectively nothing that they can do to stop the
> publication of a program for a PIC that duplicates the function of one of
> their devices. They may be able to shut down one web site with that code
> posted, but as soon as they do it, 50 others will copy the code and the
> fact that they shut down the page will be posted on all the news channels
> (e.g. digg, slashdot, etc...) and they will just be spreading the hate. Ask
> scientology about that. Takedown orders have exactly the opposite effect.
>
> I've never received a take down letter yet... I'm sort of looking forward
> to my first one. Bad attitude, I know.


This will be a commercial app for me, so I want to find out for sure if the 
concept of 1-wire is copyrighted, or the protocol specifics.  I doubt the 
concept can be copyrighted, especially since I won't need the parasite power.  
What I really need is the ability to have multiple devices communicate 
bidirectionally along 1single wire.

Marc, you are the expert at everything 1-wire -- know anything about this?

Cheers,
-Neil.

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