Confirmed: USB-GDROM firmware contains code that will intentionally expire the device after a certain time, forcing a firmwar

[/dreamcast]

I asked Mnemo about it this morning and it took a while for the guy to actually answer the question I asked, but eventually he did.
TLDR: current firmwares contain the expiry code, but he says a new firmware that he intends to release in June will not contain it. It also seems that fear of piracy was his motivation for inserting the code, which is of course a little ironic.
Here's the thread:
[h=1][/h] Hello
There seems to be a growing conversation about you having put a time-bomb into the Dreamcast USB-GDROM boards. I purchased such a board from you a couple of years ago and so far it has worked fine, but if it is destined to die for lack of firmware updates - and say, for example, you decide to stop developing for it or you are hit by a bus - then I will eventually be left with a worthless brick. And if that is the case then I need to sell it now and switch to GD-EMU.
I understand some others have asked about this but that your answers have been vague. Well, I really need to know so that I can sell the board while it is still worth some money if this is the case.
Could you please confirm whether your firmware contains such a time-bomb?
Thanks
[h=1][/h] Firmware update [URL]http://3do-renovation.ru/USB-GDROM_Controller.htm[/URL]
[h=1][/h] Hi
Thanks for the response, but unfortunately that doesn’t answer the question.
Does the firmware - either the current one or the latest one - contain a time-bomb?
The lack of a clear answer is starting to look like the truth might be yes…
[h=1][/h] No. Lack of firmware update because I am very busy. Firmware update comming very soon.
[h=1][/h] I don’t think you read the email properly. I’m not asking for a firmware update. I’m asking if any of your firmware contains a time-bomb.
Please see [URL]https://mobile.twitter.com/pcwzrd13/status/1033691574058864640[/URL] and [URL]https://www.reddit.com/r/dreamcast/comments/bv2ana/usb_gdrom_firmware_update_looks_frozen/[/URL] where such a theory is gaining ground.
I would like to know if this is true.
[h=1][/h] [URL]http://3do-renovation.ru/usbgdfaq.htm[/URL]
[h=1][/h] You’re still not answering the question. I’ll put it as simply as possible.
Does your firmware expire after a certain amount of time, as is claimed on [URL]https://mobile.twitter.com/pcwzrd13/status/1033691574058864640[/URL]?
The 2 possible answers are “yesâ€￾ and “noâ€￾.
???? ???????? ????? ???????? ???????? ????? ???????????? ?????, ??? ???????????? ?? [URL]https://mobile.twitter.com/pcwzrd13/status/1033691574058864640[/URL]?
??? ????????? ??????: «??» ? «???».
[h=1][/h] New firmware will be without firmware expire. Yes.
[h=1][/h] Oh. It’s very disappointing to hear that the current firmware is designed to expire.
So, given that you say the new firmware “willâ€￾ not contain expiry code, I guess that means you are talking about a future firmware and not a current one. So all current firmwares contain expiry code, correct?
When will the new, expiry-free firmware be released?
[h=1][/h] correct. New fw when arrived batch of USB-GDROM, at end of June.
[h=1][/h] OK. I will watch your firmware page closely until the end of June.
Please no more tricks like expiry code. Everyone will switch to GDEMU otherwise, including myself.
[h=1][/h] if the GDEMU creator did like me, firmware expiration - his device will not be cloned.

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