Barrapunto

By cloning, the Court means the creation of a piece of software which replicates the functions of another piece of software, even if the replication is accomplished by some means other than the literal repetition of the same source code.... In most instances, where a clone is created without a copyright violation, the clone emerges from a process of reverse engineering -- which consists of the study of functionality in the original product and the attempt to produce a product which accomplishes the same end.... The process of cloning the functionality of a competitor's product is usually an expensive and time-consuming undertaking which, if successful, will enable the cloned product to function as a replacement for the original product.