New license for free hardware

Alejandro (a.k.a KZKG^Gaara)

1 minute

 Intellectual Property Attorney Andrew Katz introduced a new license for open hardware. The Hardware Solderpad License is based and is compatible with the Apache 2.0 License, it even shares the same objectives, but is specifically intended for the hardware.


According to Katz, there are currently two licenses developed for open hardware - the CERN Open Hardware License and the TAPR Open Hardware License - both copyleft. However, it highlights that software and hardware are different by nature and that copyleft in that sector is not very practicable based on the argument that “the cost difference between adopting the GPL and using the code created on it in violation its terms are much greater than the cost difference that comes from violating a copyleft hardware license. This is due to the fact that hardware licenses are generally easier to perfect, as there are no copyright protections for hardware in many jurisdictions.

Katz's intention with this new license is not to emphasize copyleft, but to create a permissive hardware license. To that end, it modified the Apache License 2.0, which is already known and respected, so that it can better apply to hardware.

The new license is currently being licensed by various organizations and Karz is asking for comments on its content. Since it was announced, a revision of the original text has already been published.


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  1.   truko22 said
    ago 11 years

    This free hardware thing is complicated, it is the same with the micro arduino and the microchips both say they follow two philosophies, but from the point of view of documentation and sales I do not see any difference. Or will this be focused on accelerator cards and components of the same nature?
    In case it is software, everything is very clear.

    Reply to truko22
  2.   yuck said
    ago 10 years

    you should take off that gnu and stop talking about freedom! xddd
    Apache 2.0 license. it is not respected at all, unless you do not value freedom. It provides the perfect back door for Google and other animals to become acquainted with humanity without giving anything back.

    Otherwise, interesting article! There is little information on hardware licenses yet.

    Reply to yuck