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Is looking at the assembly code of a Windows API function for learning illegal?

eggsa 21 Reputation points
2022-09-17T20:13:20.023+00:00

The EULA for Windows states that reverse engineering is not allowed (with some exceptions however). Lets assume I wanted to take a closer look at how for example CoGetClassObject works under the hood because I am curious. For that purpose I am using a disassembler. Is that already considered illegal reverse engineering? I am especially confused by the fact that microsoft themselves provide tools and even debug symbols for that. Or for example the authors of the Windows Internals book series clearly state at the beginning of the book that even they disassembled windows code in order to write the book. Apparently Microsoft didn't really care about that.

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Dillon Silzer 60,926 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2022-09-17T20:36:49.35+00:00

Hi @eggsa

This message is not legal advice (only from the research I have completed). If someone has a correction, please let me know.

1) Generally speaking, reverse engineering in your situation is legal and ethical (see articles below):

https://ethics.csc.ncsu.edu/intellectual/reverse/study.php

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/reverse_engineering#:\~:text=Reverse%20engineering%20is%20generally%20legal,engineering%20is%20not%20a%20defense.

2) Where it begins to be unethical/illegal is when you copy the product and use it to create a copycat product.

3) I would also consult with your country's (locale) laws with regards to reverse engineering as stated by Microsoft:

General Terms

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https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/microsoft-apis/terms-of-use#11--general-terms

Microsoft APIs License and Guidelines

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https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/microsoft-apis/terms-of-use#3--microsoft-apis-license-and-guidelines

If this is helpful please accept answer.

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