[Elecraft] K2: Firmware Escrow

[Fred (FL)]

I'm sure Elecraft's design team, "escrows" and
archives their firmware and software production
code - somewhere safe.  I worked for Exxon's QYX,
back in the "Z80 Intelligent Typewriter" days - and
our software team used to store the day's production
of code, firmware, and structured assembler code,
copies of RAM patterns - to a local "MOTEL" room
offsite every night. (I designed QYX's QTTY Teletype
send/receive product, in structured-assembler code,
targeted for Z80 processors in smart typewriter)

Besides worrying about a hostile takeover of Elecraft
- hopefully they are diligent in making sure they
can't be ruined by departure of employees, renagade
employee actions, and just plain code theft.
Some major corporations, deny current but departing
employees, access to corporate code - for a number
of weeks, before they leave company.  (re -
timebombs, built into code, by disgruntled employee)

Two other major R&D development organizations I worked
for, one the U.S. governemnt, and the other a
major New York photographic giant - both had
in place very explicit active software archival
and escrowing procedures.  In fact both, had
a system of secure storeage locations - approx. five
in all, located in more than a few U.S. states.
One was a VERY deep nuclear-safe bunkered
location?  One was a salt-mine.  One was in a
permanently rented motel room, close by, but
off site of our software engineering facility.
And as I recall - the photo giant used to rotate the
total stored software, around and thru these
locations.  This included all of the corporate's
data, etc.  Tapes, floppies, disk packs, ROMS,
CD's .............

Now that many of us have prepaid for our K3's,
ahead of delivery and ahead of production status
- It would be informative if Elecraft's team, would
share & give us some assurance that they are 
protecting their product software, firmware, and
source and object code - for all the products.  

Maybe, as a company in Calif., they can address also
the escrow status - from a customer's point of view. 
Legally, and from a customer's (via purchase orders,
etc.) -  I'm not sure what the fine print does or
should say.  Hopefully there is little risk to all
of us - and it isn't anything like that 50mpg
carbureator that GM had hidden and locked up
in the back room - way away from the U.S. public.

73, Fred, N3CSY
NY/FL






       
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