On 8/7/06, PicDude <picdude@narwani.net> wrote:
>
> 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.

This paragraph shows some unclear concepts, probably originating with
the sloppy term "Intellectual Property."

Concepts can not be copyrighted.  They can only be patented.  If you
are writing your own code, you need not worry about copyright
infringement.  You must worry about patent infringement.  Fortunately,
and unlike copyright, patents expire after 20 years or so.  So if you
can find when 1-wire devices were introduced, you may be in the clear.
 Or you could look at specific patents.  Often, datasheets have a page
with all the relevant patent numbers listed.

Regards,
Mark
markrages@gmail
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