If someone manages to reverse engineer a hidden feature (like something that is contained in a DevKit, but not in the freely available SDK), is it legal to use it in a commercial product?
Oh! Than are some of the apps for Symbian illegal. Don't want to name companies here but I know at least 3 companies who are selling apps which use undocumented Symbian API functions. I didn't read the license stuff but if a feature is undocumented why shouldn't one be allowed to use it? It's there, if Symbian or Phone manufactures don't want the devs to use the functions they could just leave the program code out (e.g. as Nokia doesn't support 3rd party drivers).
If nobody knows that you obtained knowledge via reverse engineering than it is legal. So, as long as you do not talk about it it's OK. How knowledge could be illegal?
Hmm, are you surprised to see that somebody uses undocumented APIs? Welcome to the real life, then! Nevertheless, it's still illegal.
Btw, it also depends on what we mean on "undocumented API". If there's no documentation for a given API, but the header files are still there in the SDK, then it's legal to use it: Nokia was simply too lazy to write the documentation for the API in question before putting it in the SDK. However, if we're talking about an API that's there in the SDK, but with a missing .h file, then you need to reverse engineer that API and that is illegal. You might know that Nokia's way to not publish an API is that they usually leave the binary code there in the SDK, but leave its corresponding header file out of the SDK. I wouldn't call it a nice solution nor is it safe imho. But that's their practice.
If an API is 'partner' (using Nokia terms) that means that the API is still not intended for the SDK, but is opened up for some partners (i.e. companies). That is, if I partner with Nokia and ask them to open up a few APIs for me, then I can legally use it. Other cannot. I mean, they can, but only illegally.
I don't know, sorry. I'm not familiar with the area you're asking about. As long as we've been discussing about APIs in general, I could help, but now that we're heading towards area specific questions I cannot help anymore.
Whether something is legal or not depends on which laws are applicable, and they vary between different countries/states/whatever. If you're reverse engineering something, the laws of the country where you're doing the work apply. If you're using that knowledge to develop software and sell it, the laws of the country where you sell it might apply. I don't know, I'm not a lawyer, but just saying that it's legal or illegal is a bit too simplistic.
Whether reverse engineering is legal or illegal depends on the applicable laws. What is illegal in one country may be legal in another.
So, if you say "reverse engineering is illegal", you really should qualify it at least by stating the country where it applies (and for credibility, it might also actually be good to point out the actual law/ruling that says so, too, otherwise there's only your word for it, and we have no way of knowing your credentials or any other means how to know whether what you claim is actually true or not).
Note also that it might even be as complex as one law allowing reverse engineering of one type of technolgy, but disallowing it for another. E.g., it might be legal to reverse engineer software, but illegal to do so for a car engine, or whatever. Or vice versa; you could be allowed to take an engine apart to figure out how it works, but not to reverse engineer software.
An good case example of software reverse-engineering in North America is how Compaq/Phoenix re-created the IBM PC compatible BIOS software in order to start building IBM PC clones.
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Gabor Torok
Software architect, Agil Eight (http://www.agileight.com/)
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I didn't read the license stuff but if a feature is undocumented why shouldn't one be allowed to use it?
It's there, if Symbian or Phone manufactures don't want the devs to use the functions they could just leave the program code out (e.g. as Nokia doesn't support 3rd party drivers).
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Btw, it also depends on what we mean on "undocumented API". If there's no documentation for a given API, but the header files are still there in the SDK, then it's legal to use it: Nokia was simply too lazy to write the documentation for the API in question before putting it in the SDK.
However, if we're talking about an API that's there in the SDK, but with a missing .h file, then you need to reverse engineer that API and that is illegal. You might know that Nokia's way to not publish an API is that they usually leave the binary code there in the SDK, but leave its corresponding header file out of the SDK. I wouldn't call it a nice solution nor is it safe imho. But that's their practice.
Tote
Gabor Torok
Software architect, Agil Eight (http://www.agileight.com/)
Blog: http://mobile-thoughts.blogspot.com/
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Gabor Torok
Software architect, Agil Eight (http://www.agileight.com/)
Blog: http://mobile-thoughts.blogspot.com/
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what about using AT Commands to access SIM detail? is it legal?
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Gabor Torok
Software architect, Agil Eight (http://www.agileight.com/)
Blog: http://mobile-thoughts.blogspot.com/
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http://ptrmobile.blogspot.com/
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Reverse engineering is illegal, and i strongly recommend that this shouldn't be done. Even if u do never mention it anywhere , keep it for urself.
Never disclose that.
A sincere request
Regards,
Mateen Maldar
Mateen Maldar
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So, if you say "reverse engineering is illegal", you really should qualify it at least by stating the country where it applies (and for credibility, it might also actually be good to point out the actual law/ruling that says so, too, otherwise there's only your word for it, and we have no way of knowing your credentials or any other means how to know whether what you claim is actually true or not).
Note also that it might even be as complex as one law allowing reverse engineering of one type of technolgy, but disallowing it for another. E.g., it might be legal to reverse engineer software, but illegal to do so for a car engine, or whatever. Or vice versa; you could be allowed to take an engine apart to figure out how it works, but not to reverse engineer software.
An good case example of software reverse-engineering in North America is how Compaq/Phoenix re-created the IBM PC compatible BIOS software in order to start building IBM PC clones.
Update: A wikipedia article on the subject: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_engineering