The threads that I watch on here were not heated over the datastream that much but rather over the contents of the chips that tuners claim to have rights over.
My application that viewed chips showed the changes are often not that significant or complex however it is likely that someone spent a long time getting the setting correct and that others have copied them over time.
It is a fine line to providing access to data for the overall better understanding and protecting the hard work of others... there are points to support both sides of the argument.
In theory there should be some process like patents where the idea is owned for set period of time then anyone can use the knowledge. But it would be impossible to enforce.
Given the chips and ecus are so dated one would think that tuners could open source this stuff and combine to make a better upgrade like RPLabs and the like are doing...
Use the latest technology with the minds of those who have spent years working out the best way to configure the engines.. people would pay to upgrade to that, thats better than selling chips for IAW stuff I would think