Original post: https://kbin.social/m/tech/t/57239/How-do-projects-like-PINE64-and-Asahi-Linux-write-open-source
How do those projects write open-source drivers for proprietary hardware legally? I know that there’s “clean-room” reverse engineering, but is it really a requirement? From what I understand, you can write docs about how the hardware works and then the other team can write a software based on that documentation.
What if the new software is just implementing the necessities for compatibility and other than that is a different product? Is it still illegal for just one team to do that?
As long as your team have not seen the proprietary code and can demonstrate the reverse engineering process was legal, theoretically you should be fine. Now a corporation trying to mire you in legal hell in hopes of driving you into bankruptcy, is a risk. Reverse engineering not for the faint of heart, certainly there are risks as well as rewards.