Tell me more: how do "open hardware" systems work? especially against protecting IP, not allowing another entity of copying a design? Also, do not forget the p

Tell me more: how do "open hardware" systems work? especially against protecting IP, not allowing another entity of copying a design? Also, do not forget the public image issue, not just the technical issues. Large organizations, priv or govt, have an additional aspect of work by the image they project. How they are viewed or marketed matters as well. When you start throwing around a soup of abbreviations, people take notice - thru the marketing power. That counts as well - the news made it to the top of google news, though it other recent intrusions had technical&psychological impact as well. Such intrusions have happened - though now they make it to the top of Google News