QUOTE(amb7247 @ May 10 2006, 09:40 PM)
the chips themselves aren't illegal to my knowledge. But it's the firmware or software that runs them are. WHich is why it's hard to find the latest versions unless you know of the exact places to download them.
Well, that depends.. In the US anyways, the chips themselves, regardless of what's flashed on them, are a grey area.. Technically, due to section 1201 of the DMCA they're illegal:
QUOTE(DMCA Sec 1201)
(2) No person shall manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide, or otherwise traffic in any technology, product, service, device, component, or part thereof, that -
( A ) is primarily designed or produced for the purpose of circumventing a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title;
( B ) has only limited commercially significant purpose or use other than to circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title; or
( C ) is marketed by that person or another acting in concert with that person with that person's knowledge for use in circumventing a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title.
I never really liked the DMCA anyways though