[Elecraft] [K3] GPIO input to switch output power with external amplifier on?

[Thomas Horsten]

First off I'm pretty sure Elecraft wouldn't mind if we built this. In fact
I'm guessing if they had a "cleaned up for publishing" document with the
protocol specification, Wayne would post it here. I'm guessing they don't,
and it would be a lot of work to get it into a clean, publishable version -
and the engineers are quite busy with KX3, KAT500, and other things.

>From a legal standpoint, there is nothing wrong with reverse engineering
such a protocol and publishing the result, as long as there wasn't any
misappropriation of trade secrets (e.g. using an unauthorized, leaked
Elecraft document as a starting point). But monitoring the communications
on the bus and from there working out the protocol, and implementing your
own version, is a perfectly legal thing to do, and is in fact a protected
right. The only exception would be DMCA-related, where you are not allowed
to reverse engineer a protocol that's specifically designed to protect
copyright - many do not like that law one bit, and it does not apply
everywhere, but in any case a case like this falls way outside the scope of
the DMCA.

So it's perfectly legal to do :)

73, Thomas M0TRN

On 4 September 2012 15:10, Stewart <stewart at twinwood.me> wrote:

> Raises some interesting questions...
>
> Can a unique protocol be protected ?
>
> If so, if it is publicised has an offence been committed ?
>
> If it is used only by an individual and not commercially, has an offence
> been committed ?
>
> 73
> Stewart G3RXQ
>