[josephcsible]

> I want to know right away if the device I bought is a fake.

This is definitely a reasonable thing to want, but Prolific could have done that in a much better way, either by just giving a warning and still allowing the clone to work, or by only triggering when a device is first set up, not just suddenly after it's been in the field and working fine for years.

> The only way Prolific can get these guys to stop is to get the end-user pissed off

I'm not okay with being used as collateral damage for some company's brand enforcement efforts.

> He bought a cheap fake chip, knows it, and wants his free ride.

The article says "I bought device without knowing it has a fake chip in it." Are you accusing him of lying?