Reverse engineering is a precise form of product teardown that can be the basis for many intellectual property cases. The process can be applied to products, systems or components from mechanical assemblies to biological, chemical and organic matter. In IP, the legality of the reverse engineering process is a frequently debated subject. Non-disclosure agreements, end user license agreements, and anti-circumvention can act as legal barriers to reverse engineering. Some laws like the Digital Millennium Copyright Act plays a vital role in legally allowing software reverse engineering to occur.
Does Reverse Engineering Comply with the Law?
Reverse engineering has traditionally been a legal method of acquiring trade secrets under certain conditions. The product must be acquired through “fair and honest means.” Trade secrets cannot be protected through these basic purchasing means. An example of this is buying a product on the open market. The Restatement of Unfair Competition states that “The owner of a trade secret does not have an exclusive right to possession or use of the secret information. Protection is available only against a wrongful acquisition, use, or disclosure of the trade secret.” What defines a wrongful acquisition, use, or disclosure? This occurs when an agreement is breached, (can be implicit or explicit) or when a trade secret is obtained through “improper means.” Trespassing and deceit are examples of improper means.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act
This act was established in 1998 with the purpose of removing Digital Rights Management copyright infringement. An exception exists in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which allows reverse engineering to occur for the purpose of creating or improving software inter-operability. Here are the three exceptions in the DMCA, which allow for reverse engineering in specific circumstances:
1. Non-Disclosure Agreements
If a company informs you about un-patented trade secrets under an NDA, then you can not reveal that information to the public. If disclosed, this would qualify as patent infringement. What if the company patents the trade secret? Once this occurs it is no longer a secret, therefore, reverse engineering is unnecessary due to patent disclosure.
2. End User License Agreements
In proprietary software, an end user license agreement is a legally binding contract between a software manufacturer (licensor) and a user. (purchaser) It effectively establishes the user’s right to use the software. Reverse engineering a software product with an end user license agreement is strictly prohibited. These agreements can cancel out the effects of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act exception; achieving interoperation with an end user licensed software can be difficult.
3. Anti-circumvention
What if a company uses anti-circumvention devices to protect against reverse engineering? Section 1201 of the DMCA states that a technologically protected trade secret circumvention for the purpose of reverse engineering is strictly prohibited. Companies that have secrets they intend to keep confidential will employ layers upon layers of coding protection to hinder reverse engineers. Read more about DMCA Section 1201 of Title 17 here:
GHB Intellect Specializes in Reverse Engineering Issues
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