It is not difficult to search component libraries looking for part of the same style and size with matching power and ground pins. A simple product with little added value is exactly the kind of thing a cloner can make money at. The only way I know of to make a design hard to copy is to add value to it that isn't easily reproducible or is patentable and/or to iterate the product faster than the cloners can keep up.

Can I remove the labels from ICs?
I have a problem with a sbc that I am repairing, the sbc is controlled by an 8-bit OTP microcontroller which I think is broken.
I only get 200 ohms between pin Vcc and Vss, specifically the chip is COP87L84BC and is out of production. 

What I try is to read the registers of the microcontroller with a cable ISP and any similar software WinPic800 but for this chip.
I never used the COP8 OPT from National Semiconductor so I wanted information about this MCU or web sites where I can find information.
