Is it legal to write guides on reverse engineering ?

Question

I'm asking this because I've seen books like these

http://www.amazon.com/Hacking-Xbox-Introduction-Reverse-Engineering/dp/1593270291/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288379581&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0470104511/ref=tmm_pap_used_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&qid=1288379727&sr=1-1&condition=used

and the authors of these books haven't been sued so why is it still illegal to write guides for reverse engineering ?

Answer 1

Writing guide is one thing, and it generally wouldn't be illegal. You could write a guide on growing pot, that wouldn't be illegal.



Reverse engineering is not always illegal either. But if the software owner prohibits it and a resder does it anyway, well, it's the reader's problem, not the author

Answer 2

the legalities are not in the writing of a guide but rather what the guide is about......



if the property/item in question is proprietary in nature, copyrighted, trademarked, patented, etcetera... etcetera... then it is protected.

Answer 3

if its for educational purposes then its fine as long as you reverse engineer things that you have its ok but your not allowed to do it to other peoples and charge them buy it and use it for your own purposes