But there's no reason quadcopter software should require trade secrets or IP protection. It could just as easily be open source, and yet it still sounds like the rules prohibit it.
From skirmishes in the 1990s crypto wars I can assure you plenty of open source software was export controlled.
In fact this was a drive for some of Cygnus' overseas offices: not to evade the law but to do development that could not be spoiled by accidentally exposing it to a person subject to export control laws. Stupidly, we could import that software into the States, but people there couldn't fix bugs in it, only file reports.
There is plenty of open source software thats regulated.
If you wanted to reach, you could say that anything that helps guide a vehicle to its destination is control technology, then apply that to something that flies and you're immediately under Aerospace.
In fact this was a drive for some of Cygnus' overseas offices: not to evade the law but to do development that could not be spoiled by accidentally exposing it to a person subject to export control laws. Stupidly, we could import that software into the States, but people there couldn't fix bugs in it, only file reports.