No matter what anyone here says (and the sysops keep deleting my posts as they must not even want to hear it), the nav firmware is indeed copyrighted material and so it is illegal to pass it around (or even to modify it). I'm sure that BMW would simply look at the passing around of the firmware with a blind eye, but I bet that if you asked them for an official answer you'd get an ear full.

I personally don't mind it being passed around (nor modified) as I don't feel that it is hurting anything per se. However, you can't merely deny the fact that what I am saying about it being illegal to do so is true (and just keep delete my posts).

I find it really funny that this board allows one action to take place (i.e. the distribution and modification of the nav firmware), but strictly prohibits any mention whatsoever of the nav map data discs.

What a hypocrisy!

I have a feeling that me voicing my opinion is only going to get me kicked off this board (and I hope not as I really do like the board), but I feel that I have to do it. It makes me sick to see Ace going around shaking his fist at anyone who even mentions the nav map disc, but at the same time feeling just fine about himself when it comes to the topic of the nav firmware. In my eyes (and according to the law - at least here in the U.S.) they're one in the same. You can't ignore one over the other.