[Open-graphics] Definition of Open Hardware

[Nicolas Boulay]

2006/10/4, Lourens Veen <lourens at rainbowdesert.net>:
> On Wednesday 04 October 2006 09:34, Nicolas Boulay wrote:
> >
> > Hardware can't be easly change as software and cost something. But
> > the open hardware "user", user in the GPL way, are not the same. Open
> > hardware user are soc designer or board designer, they deal with
> > copyrighted material, plan and ideas. That's not the case with the
> > buyer of the hardware. He can't be protected by a licence based on
> > copyright or very hardly (you can't link a final product with the
> > licence on the hdl code, you can only restrict the use of the hdl
> > code).
>
> So, it isn't the case that the ASIC mask is derived from the HDL, and
> the actual chip is derived from the ASIC mask, producing chips is
> copying the copyrighted design and selling them is distribution?
>

No because GPL is a licence based on copyright laws, a goods is not
covered by copyright law.

> > The goal of Open software is more "technicaly better" than freedom.
> > Because it's much easier to provide in the hardware world.
>
> Although OGC1 will be better in some respects than current video cards,
> it will be far inferior in others. And it will be relatively expensive.
> However, it will give you more freedom...
>

Under linux, it will just work, that the opposite of all there
competitive. ATI is out. Nvidia driver miss a lot of fonctionnality
(on linux x86...).

With a TV out and a graphic quality better than competitors it could
find an other market...

> Lourens
>
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