[sane-devel] A doubt about reverse engineering

[Bertrik Sikken]

Julien BLACHE wrote:
> JKD <JKD@JKDSoft.cjb.net> wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> 
>>I'm writting a program to control hp scanjet 3970 (at this momment I can
>>not call it 'backend') using reverse engineering to a windows library
>>provided by HP. And I have a doubt. Due to the structure of the program
>>is similar to functions debugged in the library... could I have any
>>legal problems with HP? Could exist any problem in making GPL any code
>>derived from aplying reverse engineering to a copyrighted library?
> 
> 
> HP strongly supports Linux, and usually help as much as they can.

eh, really?
I haven't seen much evidence of support to w.r.t. scanners.

> I don't think they'd go after you for writing a backend for the
> 3970. You could even try to ask them for the specs, although I don't
> know what their policy is in this regard. (in such companies the right
> hand tends to ignore what the left hand does, so...)
> 
> JB.
>