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New Lock Aims To End Chip Piracy

Posted by kdawson on from the can-you-unlock-me-now dept.

Stony Stevenson writes "Pirated microchips based on stolen blueprints could soon be a thing of the past thanks to computer engineers at Rice University and the University of Michigan. The engineers have devised a way to head off this costly infringement by giving each chip its own unique lock and key. The patent holder would hold the keys, and the chip would securely communicate with the patent holder to unlock itself. The chip could operate only after being unlocked. The Ending Piracy of Integrated Circuits (Epic) technique relies on established cryptography methods, and introduces subtle changes into the chip design process without affecting performance or power consumption. With Epic protection enabled, each integrated circuit would be manufactured with a few extra switches that behave like a combination lock."

5 of 312 comments (clear)

  1. Physical DRM by QMalcolm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Great.

  2. Sure, great idea by KublaiKhan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Presuming that there's a constant internet connection, that the manufacturer's server is incapable of being cracked and maintains at least 5-9's uptime, and that anyone's stupid enough to buy a crippled chip with this on it.

    --
    In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
    A stately pleasure dome decree
    1. Re:Sure, great idea by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The outsourced manufacturing company wouldn't have the ability to activate them, so couldn't sell extras to the black market.

      However, since they have the blueprints to the chips, they can find the sections of the schematic that implement this activation system, create a slightly modified die where they're masked out to always return an "authorized" status, and sell THOSE pirate chips on the black market.

    2. Re:Sure, great idea by insertwackynamehere · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Maybe the answer is to stop outsourcing.

  3. Not a good idea by mlts · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In a number of countries that this chip is aimed for, what will happen is that some knockoff fab will disassemble the chip, figure out the masks, and just make and sell the same IC minus the locking circuitry.

    This type of locking mechanism also brings up other points. Once the IC is "unlocked", is it unlocked for good, or just for a time period? Could some criminal organization figure out the method of re-locking it, then lock the machines who belong to the patent holder's customers? This would result in some decent havoc especially in embedded circuitry (HVAC systems, railroad switches.)

    The article seems to be lacking substance as well.