FAQ about MCU reverse engineering

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General Questions About Microcontroller Firmware Extraction

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• Is it safe to send payment to MikaTech ?

  If MikaTech was a bad company, you could find tons of bad reputations about its service on the internet over the 28 years history

  So, the answer is YES! We are good people.

  Why choose Mikatech, please click here to find out
  

  
  
• Can Mikatech break ics not listed on this site ?

  Different chip manufacturers have different part numbers, but the inner core of the chip can be make with same technology, it would be quite impossible to list all the part numbers where our technology can apply such as MYSON, STK, FEELING, ANALOG, FUJITSU, NOVATEK, LG/HYNDAI.
  
  Also by the advancing of the technology, everyday we gain more and more experience and develope new methods for reverse engineering for different Intergated Circuit parts. Full list of Integrated Circuit part numbers which is within our scope of capability is always getting bigger, please contact us to find out.

• Will my privacy be protected ?

  Mikatech Innovative Limited understands the importance of its clients' privacy. At the moment you contact Mikatech, the personal information from you will be put under protection by our management regulations which was developed by our years of practice, Mikatech uses these information to customize its service to you, it will never disclose these information to third party out of any reason.
  Every project we did, we will delete all the data, materials, and codes 60days after deliverig the files, it iwll protect us and protect your privacy.

• Is it legal to get service from Mikatech ?

  Yes, it is totally legal.
  Mikatech deliver its reverse engineering services for educational purposes only, it can be illegal to use above mentioned services in some coutries or regions, please check your local laws. Mikatech does not take any responsibility in relation to the use of above mentioned services that may be considered illegal.

  
  

  The Legality of Microcontroller Reverse Engineering

  The legality of microcontroller reverse engineering is not a binary matter; it is heavily context-dependent and differs substantially across legal jurisdictions. The crux of the issue hinges on two critical factors: the purpose of the reverse engineering activity and the type of information or content being extracted during the process.

  The following analysis elaborates on the core legal considerations governing microcontroller reverse engineering worldwide:

  1. Primacy of the Intended Purpose

  Interoperability and Security Research Purposes: Most major jurisdictions, including the United States and the European Union, have established statutory exceptions for reverse engineering conducted to enable interoperability with independently developed software or to conduct legitimate security assessment and testing. Such practices are generally deemed legally permissible.

  Commercial Exploitation and Infringing Replication: Reverse engineering undertaken to extract, replicate, and repurpose proprietary binary firmware from microcontrollers for the development, production, or sale of competing commercial products is overwhelmingly illegal. This conduct constitutes a direct violation of prevailing copyright laws across most regions.

  2. Copyright Infringement Risks for Embedded Software

  The primary legal liability associated with microcontroller reverse engineering stems from the embedded software stored within the chip. Judicial rulings in numerous countries have confirmed that on-chip binary code qualifies as computer software and is therefore entitled to full copyright protection.

  Reverse engineering a microcontroller to extract its proprietary binary code, followed by unauthorized replication, appropriation, or commercial distribution of that code, constitutes explicit copyright infringement. This remains the foundational legal violation in the majority of recent criminal and civil enforcement cases involving chip reverse engineering.

  3. Regional Legal Regulatory Frameworks

  United States

  Legality in the U.S. is regulated by federal copyright law and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Notably, Section 1201 of the DMCA sets forth strict anti-circumvention provisions, which criminalize the circumvention of technological protection measures (such as encryption protocols) that restrict access to copyright-protected works.

  While the DMCA carves out limited exceptions for legitimate reverse engineering, encryption research, and cybersecurity testing, these exemptions are narrowly defined and strictly interpreted. Strict legal compliance is mandatory for any related technical activities.

  European Union

  The EU Software Directive provides the unified regulatory framework for reverse engineering practices within member states. Decompilation (a core form of reverse engineering) is legally permitted solely to achieve interoperability with independently created software programs.

  The EU regulatory regime is highly restrictive: it explicitly prohibits secondary-stage reverse engineering activities conducted for all non-exempt purposes, limiting lawful reverse engineering to extremely specific scenarios.

  China

  China’s legal position on reverse engineering is nuanced and has been further clarified by recent judicial interpretations and landmark court rulings. The Supreme People’s Court has formally recognized reverse engineering as a legitimate technical method in itself.

  However, the legitimacy of the technical method does not equate to immunity from intellectual property infringement liabilities. As exemplified by rulings from the Ningbo Beilun District People’s Court and multiple subsequent judicial cases, conducting reverse engineering to extract a microcontroller’s core proprietary program for commercial replication and exploitation constitutes a criminal offense. This judicial principle has been consistently upheld in Chinese judicial practice.

  4. Trade Secrets and Contractual Restrictions

  Trade Secret Protection: Core design parameters and manufacturing specifications of microcontrollers are legally recognizable trade secrets. While reverse engineering lawfully acquired commercial products is generally considered a legitimate means of discovering trade secret information, this exception does not authorize the unauthorized replication of embedded software or the physical circuit layout of microcontroller chips.

  Contractual Obligations: End-User License Agreements (EULAs) and other binding contractual terms routinely include explicit clauses prohibiting reverse engineering. Any violation of these contractual provisions may result in civil liability for breach of contract, independent of copyright or trade secret laws.

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