lacnet Posted January 16, 2006 Report Posted January 16, 2006 I wonder... Is it illegal to document a protocol ? Example: Earlier I asked Johnson Controls about the DX9100 protocol specifications. I did not get it but I could get the Metasys N2 open systems protocol... (It's the same protocol.. The DX9100 version of it have 2 bytes more... it's called the BCC (Block checksum)(I understand that Johnson are famous for that) a small message must have 4 bytes of checksum...And with communication speed of 9600bps it's really slow... Anyway, a quick search on the internet tells me that there are a lot of OPC servers for DX9100. Either they got the documentation from JC, or they have documented it themselves (Reverse engineered) The reason that I wonder is that I recently have documented a proprietary lonworks protocol (not lonworks based on SNVT's) between a PLC and the PLC vendors scada frontend. I also made a OPC server for it. Is against the law to do this ? Is it illegal to sell this information to others ? Is it illegal for me to sell the OPC server for this protocol ? Quote
IO_Rack Posted January 17, 2006 Report Posted January 17, 2006 I'm not familier with the peticular protocol you speak of. I would assume if they give you the means to communicate with a device they would allow you to use it. Maybe I don't understand the question. The very first thing I would do is read the software liscense agreement. Generally questions about redistribution are adressed in the agreement. Quote
lacnet Posted January 18, 2006 Author Report Posted January 18, 2006 Hmm.... At www.plctalk.net I got 9 answers in 12 hours... Here you don't understand the question... bye bye... Quote
TimWilborne Posted January 18, 2006 Report Posted January 18, 2006 But to be serious, personally I didn’t answer this because I’m not a lawyer. I just write programs. If I did write something that might step on big companies toes the few companies I distribute it to would not harm the big companies enough to give me any attention. IO_Rack gave you a very good suggestion of reading the license agreement. They usually give you a pretty good idea in it. Besides that all I know is that if it is a proprietary protocol such as AB RIO you are suppose to get permission. If it is an open protocol such as Ethernet/IP or Devicenet then you can write it. You have to have permission or testing to use their logo though. And I couldn't swear to either of those. But if you are seriously worried about getting in trouble, I wouldn’t listen to IO_Rack, me, or the 9 other guys at PlcTalk. We are all only giving opinions and everyone knows opinions are like that hole everyone has on their back below their waste. Quote
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