RE: [microblaze-uclinux] uclinux on spartan-3e starter kit

["Kevin Somervill" <kevin.m.somervill@xxxxxxxx>]

Hello,
Just to chime in... 

| From: owner-microblaze-uclinux@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
| [mailto:owner-microblaze-uclinux@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of 
| John Williams
| 
| Hi Antti,
| 
| Antti Lukats wrote:
| 
| > the rotary encoder driver in your design what is the 
| license term for it?
| > is going to be GPL or must it be purchased from PetaLogix?
| 
| Thanks for asking - I should clarify that in the headers.
| 
| The question of what the GPL means for IP is an interesting 
| one, due to
| the concept of "linking" - if a core is GPL, does that mean 
| that any SoC
| that you put it in, must similarly be licensed under the GPL?  Or only
| the subsystem that's "linked" on the same bus, or...?

GPL, to me, means nothing for IP in the sense of HDL that is synthesized
(not compiled) for use in an FPGA, CPLD, ASIC, etc.  The GPL is for software
programs, which IP cores for FPGA (and the like henceforth) are not.  There
is specific wording in the GPL that makes it more than slightly questionable
for use on HDL (executed and compiled most specifically). 

I am certain that folks will differ with me on this.

| In terms of the rotary encoder, I'd lean towards a dual-mode 
| license of
| 
|  - free for 
| student/academic/research/non-commercial/evaluation use, or
|  - subject to negotiated agreement for commercial use
| 
| What do you think?  If you have some particular use in mind, 
| let me know
| and we can discuss it.

The latter option seems the best for HDL cores.  Have you looked into the
licensing used by opencores?

./ks

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