[RANT]False Beeprog. AGAIN.

[geneb]

On Tue, 23 Jun 2015, Johnny Billquist wrote:

> On 2015-06-23 22:05, Chuck Guzis wrote:
>> On 06/23/2015 12:03 PM, Johnny Billquist wrote:
>> 
>>> What is in the NVRAM? And how did it get there in the first place? Are
>>> you saying that it is impossible to reprogram the device with some other
>>> firmware after you have tried the version Elnec have which detects your
>>> clone?
>> 
>> It's possible, but as I understand it, reprogramming involves using a
>> PICKit programming tool, something not everyone has access to.  The
>> point is that prior to Elnec doing their little act of revenge, the
>> clone programmer worked just fine.  Afterwards, not so much.
>
> So it is recoverable...
>
*headdesk*

Yes, technically it's recoverable.  A car that's been set on fire and left 
to burn is also technically recoverable.

> I assume the system can be upgraded in the field through some built in 
> function in the firmware, and that function is also no longer available after 
> installing the "latest" version then.
>
No.  the Elnec firmware update effectively destroys the counterfeit device 
(in the absence of a person with very specific skills that can undo the 
damage).

> Well, the criminal part is obviously done by the company cloning the device 
> in the first place. Further aggravated by selling it as some other device it 
> is not. So they are fraudulent both to Elnec and to end users.
>
Yes, but as is often the case, the end user doesn't know the device they 
have is counterfeit.

> I know that in the US people sue for all kind of things, and sometimes the 
> most amazing things stand up in courts, so I wouldn't be surprised to learn 
> that this could hold up as well, but in my view, Elnec was perfectly in their 
> right to do what they have done.
>
No they weren't.  They have effectively destroyed property owned by 
someone else.  The fact that the device they destroyed is counterfeit is 
completely irrelevant!  FTDI learned this the hard way when some drooling 
MBA decided it would be a good idea to brick people's serial devices. 
AFAIK, they're STILL suffering for that - as they well should.

If you brick a piece of equipment that I own, don't bother running. 
You'll only die tired.

g.


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