http://www.vsia.com/ has a new paper on IP protection/detection for cores. Table of Contents VSIA IP Protection DWG 1 Scope 1 Introduction 1 Overview: Security Schemes 2 Deterrents 3 Patents 4 Copyright 4 Trade Secrets 4 Governing Law 4 Protection Mechanisms 5 Encryption 5 Hardware Protection 5 Chemical Protection 5 Detection Schemes 5 Tagging and Tracking 6 Digital Signatures 6 Digital Fingerprinting 6 Digital Watermarking 6 Noise Fingerprinting 7 Silicon Security 7 Programmable SRAM 7 Hard Mask 8 Anti-fuse programmable 8 In the area of electronic design, there are an estimated 100 reverse engineering shops in the US approximately 70 percent of these are funded by government(s), and many of the techniques developed are leaked, or even published, to the industry. The American Society for Industrial Secrets estimates that in the US alone, trade secret theft is in excess of $2 billion per month.