Encrypting Firmwire and Logic (who would have thought)

Haven't read any of my Control Engineering spam for ages but
Protect intellectual property: Encrypt firmware, control code caught my eye tonight:

Opto 22 released the “Secure Strategy Distribution System, as part of PAC Project version 8.2, the company's flagship automation software suite that includes control programming, HMI development, OPC connectivity, and enterprise database integration components. The software gives OEMs and machine builders the ability to encrypt firmware and control programs so they can only be uploaded or downloaded to a controller via use of a secure encryption key," the company says.