[RANT]False Beeprog. AGAIN.

[Chuck Guzis]

On 06/23/2015 09:32 AM, Johnny Billquist wrote:

> But unless I misunderstood things, the software merely does a check if
> the hardware looks sane, and if not it displays a message saying that
> this is the wrong hardware, and it refuses to continue running.

You do misunderstand the situation.  Elnec has publicly stated that it 
checks for one of the illegal clones and subsequently erases the NVRAM. 
  This is independent of the owner's knowledge or lack thereof, that 
he's got a bootleg copy.

The intent is clear, as is the public statement.  They're taking a gripe 
they have with some Chinese bootleggers and depriving (stealing) the use 
of your device because it isn't theirs.  That is, they've determined 
that the device isn't legitimate and, as a result, disabled it--in lieu 
of taking action against a hard-to-pin-down bootlegger.

And, as mentioned, FTDI tried the same approach and got burned badly. 
All one needs is a hungry lawyer--class-action cases can pay off big.

--Chuck