Indeed. The Universal Patcher thread simply caused it's own demise by degenerating into a request thread for ppl unable to patch firmware/compile kits, asking for others to do it for them. That was the problem I believe. The posts responding to those requests are what ticked the box for breach of EULA. Regardless, it's now gone but the genie is out of the bottle so let's see what happens next.
The simple fact remains of course that Garmin's EULA treats all of it's licensed data exactly the same. Maps, firmware, software are all equal under their licensing. Nothing in that data, not one single Byte, should be changed. That doesn't alter my firm view that it's all about the money and what is costing them most will get the most attention. Good luck for a defendant who relies on their counsel arguing that "The complainant is not pursuing cure firmware makers therefore it should not make any claim against my client" when the district attorney or crown is prosecuting their client for map piracy or firmware protection hacking. That line would likely be struck out by the judge in pre-trial argument on points of law anyway. Law and it's interpretation by the courts should be and are usually based on common sense. "Two wrongs don't make a right" springs to mind. Again however, time will tell. Regardless, I'll still help ppl with bricked devices and make cure fw for them and be totally comfortable with that, but I'll not patch fw to enable unlocked maps in protected devices.