[mags]

in general reverse-engineering is legal, but what the dmca does is make it illegal to break encryption for such purposes.

yes, even when the 'encryption' in question is something as pathetically weak as css on dvds, and probably even when whatever simple algorithm is used to encode the iriver firmware between its modifiable state and its device-loadable state.

I think right now some stupid garage door company was suing 3rd party makers of garage door remote controls, because the 3rd party vendors designed their remote controls by 'cracking' the 'encryption' on the original company's remotes. same deal with lexmark suing makers of 3rd party printer ink cartridges, after lexmark started putting little electronic chips on its ink carts. fscking pathetic.