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Without spending too much time on the legal ramifications and not being a lawyer, it looks like most of the Sparkfun stuff is CC licensed. Although doubtful the license if for their source or modified software/firmware.

"Arduino is an open-source hardware and software company". So the clones are apparently not illegal to buy in the USA (if this is the country of contention).

Without spending too much time on the legal ramifications and not being a lawyer, it looks like most of the Sparkfun stuff is CC licensed. Although doubtful the license if for their original or modified software/firmware.

From the Arduino site: "Arduino is an open-source hardware and software company". So the clones are apparently not illegal to buy in the USA (if this is the country of contention).

Solution for semi-bricked Pro Micro clones like I did mine:

The OP's question is ambiguous to as the exact Arduino device in question. My answer applies to the "Pro Micro" or mini "Leonardo" since these Clones usually use the default Leonardo boot loader, not the modified Sparkfun version.

I've made several breadboard tests with these then two projects: I gutted an old keypad replaced with a Pro Micro Clone and turned it into a extended keyboard so I could get F13 to F24 keys plus some others, then a custom game foot controller (to 'Q' and 'E' lean in FPS shooters).

Problem, I went to update my Foot controller sketch and after over a year I forgot my Arduino IDE settings. This time I must have used the wrong setting like "Sparkfun Pro Micro" 3.3.v 8Mhz when your clone is probably like mine a 5v 16Mhz model. When I uploaded the sketch it failed and apparently corrupted the program Flash header or something. The original code was still running (on pedal press my LED lit up) but the device now showed up as "..missing USB device descriptor.." type message in the Windows device manager.

A note on the morality and ethics of buying Chinese clone devices. First of all, at least this is not nearly as bad a situation of the Chinese fake chips, the actual real scourge of the Electronics parts world.

Without spending too much time on the legal ramifications, and not being a lawyer, et al, it looks like most of the Sparkfun stuff is CC licensed. Although doubtful for their own, or modified software. Also "Arduino is an open-source hardware and software company". So while someone might be free to buy the Sparkfun version, the clones are apparently not illegal to buy in the USA.

The reason a lot of people buy the clones is you can buy around three or more of them for the same price of just one Sparkfun Micro. I've been an electronic hobbyist since the late 70's and part of the equation for me is getting a few extras because there is always that chance I'll fry something despite double if not triple checking my wiring. I can make a project and have some spares plus more for the next one.

I wouldn't use it in anything mission critical, like a pacemaker, a kidney dialysis machine, or as the navigation computer for the Space shuttle, but so far the Clone has been working fine for me.

But this being said, I'm a big fan of Sparkfun. They are a relatively small USA company that makes fun innovative products, helpful Youtube "how too" videos, etc. I'm all for supporting them.

Solution for semi-bricked Pro Micro/mini-Leonardo clones:

The OP's question is ambiguous to as the exact Arduino device in question. My answer applies to the "Pro Micro" or "mini-Leonardo" since these Clones usually use the default Leonardo boot loader, not the modified Sparkfun version.

I've made two projects with these: I gutted an old keypad replaced with a Pro Micro Clone and turned it into a extended keyboard so I could get F13 to F24 keys plus some others, then a custom game foot controller (to 'Q' and 'E' lean in FPS shooters).

Problem, I went to update my Foot controller sketch and after over a year later I forgot my Arduino IDE settings. This time I must have used the wrong setting like "Sparkfun Pro Micro" 3.3.v 8Mhz when your clone is probably like mine a 5v 16Mhz model. When I uploaded the sketch it failed and apparently corrupted the program Flash header or something. The original code was still running (on pedal press my LED lit up) but the device now showed up as "..missing USB device descriptor.." type message in the Windows device manager.

The OP got some opinionated and pretty toxic responses for an open-source hardware device. Some common sense notes on the morality and ethics of buying Chinese clone devices:

First of all, at least this is not nearly as bad a situation of the Chinese fake chips, arguably the real scourge of the Electronics parts world.

Without spending too much time on the legal ramifications and not being a lawyer, it looks like most of the Sparkfun stuff is CC licensed. Although doubtful the license if for their source or modified software/firmware. 

"Arduino is an open-source hardware and software company". So the clones are apparently not illegal to buy in the USA (if this is the country of contention).

The reason a lot of people buy the clones is you can buy around three or more of them for the same price of just one Sparkfun Micro. I've been an electronic hobbyist since the late 70's and part of the equation for me is getting a few extras because there is always that chance I'll fry something despite double if not triple checking my wiring. I can make a project plus have some spares for the next time.

I wouldn't use it in anything mission critical, but so far the Clone has been working fine for me as a hobbyist.

These things being said, I'm a big fan of Sparkfun. They are a relatively small USA company that makes fun innovative products with helpful Youtube "how too" videos, etc. I'm all for supporting them.

The one incorrect answer here is both mainly wrong and very toxic.

First look at the schematic. The Pro Micro doesn't use any external serial to USB chip at all. The "CH340T USB" argument is patently false. The USB is directly wired to the ATMEGA chip as it has built-in USB 2.0 support.

Actually OP you probably semi-bricked your clone like mine.

I've made several breadboard tests with these then two projects: I gutted an old keypad replaced with a Pro Micro Clone and turned it into a extended keyboard so I could get F13 to F24 keys plus some others, then a custom game foot controller (to 'Q' and 'E' lean in FPS shooters).

The problem was I went to update my Foot controller sketch after a year and forgot my settings. I must have used the wrong setting like "Sparkfun Pro Micro" 3.3.v 8Mhz when your clone is probably like mine a 5v 16Mhz model. When I uploaded the sketch it failed and apparently corrupted the program Flash header or something. The original code was still running (on pedal press my LED lit up) but the device now showed up as "..missing USB device descriptor.." type message in the Windows device manager.

Fear not, it's probably recoverable like it was for me. First of all realize DON'T set in the Arduino IDE the board to "Spark Fun Pro Micro", simply set it to the default "Arduino Leonardo". That's the right board setting for these clones. The Sparkfun bootloader IS different, as it says on their site. If you uploaded their bootloader then it might work but that's an experiment for another time.

Solution for semi-bricked Pro Micro clones like I did mine:

The OP's question is ambiguous to as the exact Arduino device in question. My answer applies to the "Pro Micro" or mini "Leonardo" since these Clones usually use the default Leonardo boot loader, not the modified Sparkfun version.

Note the the Pro Micro doesn't use an external serial to USB chip at all. So the "CH340T USB" argument doesn't apply here. The USB is directly wired to the ATMEGA chip in this case as it has built-in USB 2.0 support.

I've made several breadboard tests with these then two projects: I gutted an old keypad replaced with a Pro Micro Clone and turned it into a extended keyboard so I could get F13 to F24 keys plus some others, then a custom game foot controller (to 'Q' and 'E' lean in FPS shooters).

Problem, I went to update my Foot controller sketch and after over a year I forgot my Arduino IDE settings. This time I must have used the wrong setting like "Sparkfun Pro Micro" 3.3.v 8Mhz when your clone is probably like mine a 5v 16Mhz model. When I uploaded the sketch it failed and apparently corrupted the program Flash header or something. The original code was still running (on pedal press my LED lit up) but the device now showed up as "..missing USB device descriptor.." type message in the Windows device manager.

Fear not, it's probably recoverable like it was for me. First of all realize you DON'T set in the Arduino IDE the board to "Spark Fun Pro Micro", simply set it to the default "Arduino Leonardo". That's the right board setting for these clones. The Sparkfun bootloader IS different, as it says on their site. If you uploaded their bootloader then it might work but that's an experiment for another time.