OT: A call to arms (sort of)

From: William Donzelli <aw288_at_osfn.org>
Date: Tue Jul 6 16:49:09 1999

> Odd... I've got several hundred (no exageration) service manuals here.
> All containing schematics, etc. In a lot of cases there's enough
> information to build an exact copy of the device from the service manual.
> And you know what? I can't think of a single example where a competitor
> has done that. Or even used the information to directly make a competing
> product.

???!!?!?!!!!

Tucked away in just about _every_ manuafacturer's R&D department is a
room that contains as many of their competitor's products and manuals as
they can get their hands on. If you think that electronic companies do
not use this tactic to "improve" their products, you are wrong.

Service manuals do a great job of giving up company secrets! These days,
the things are generally marked "confidential" and do not leave the
buildings.

William Donzelli
aw288_at_osfn.org
Received on Tue Jul 06 1999 - 16:49:09 BST