On 5/14/07, Russell McMahon <apptech@paradise.net.nz> wrote:
> > Manufactured by yourself, the ICD2 clone (16F877 and 18F2445) will
> > be
> > around $20-$25. Firmware upgraded automatically.
> > http://www.edaboard.com/ftopic161641.html
>
> I remember discussion about the ethics of the ICD2 a while ago but
> paid little attention at the time.
> No doubt this has been well sorted out by now (if sorting was ever
> needed).
>
> What is the
>
>    1.    legal and
>
>    2.    ethical
>
> position re buying or building a clone ICD2 where "firmware will be
> upgraded automatically".
> And, regardless of the answers to 1 and 2 above,
>
>    3.    What would Microchip like you to do and why?

It's difficult to answer to this question. I think if you build the
clone for your own usage
as long there is more than 30% difference in hardware than the
Microchip version,
it's a different product. If this different product is able to upload
a firmware being compatible with the original Microchip ICD, and it
has a different firmware than the ICD,
it's probably legal. I'm not asking myself such questions as long I
don't use ICD, being a HLL fan. A combination jal-mplab is too
difficult for me.

best wishes,
Vasile

Question: if your family is starving and you stole a bread for them,
it's ethical or not ? If you are going to jail for one or two years
because of that stolen bread and the vicepresident of the X company
who stole a few bilion of dollars every year it's still running his
business, it's ethical or not ?
Please do not answer just think.
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