- Mon Apr 19, 2010 6:32 pm
#98886
I've been working on a motorsports telemetry device that currently uses a few SparkFun-created components, notably SerLCD and OpenLog, and I'm a bit confused with the restrictions and requirements, being that they involve Open Source schematics and firmware. I've never dealt with hardware licensing before, so this all seems a bit odd to me. I see that SerLCD's description page says "Please do not use our code or schematics for commercial use", and OpenLog's "design files" (including firmware) are released under CC-SA v3. I'm assuming that means you simply don't want people ripping off the designs and making copycat products, which is completely understandable and fair on your part. But what if someone just wants to buy these items from SparkFun for use as a component in another product? I'm not modifying them or their code in any way (and would gladly release the source if I did), so I only wish to know what the guidelines are for including them without modification as components in my device, which has the possibility of being sold commercially. Am I in the clear? Do I need to provide the source code even if I don't change anything? Could you please clarify what the restrictions are? I just want to make sure I'm not going against your wishes or otherwise doing something offensive here. Thanks.
I may just choose to open source everything, and even use that as part of my marketing strategy, but I need to be very clear on what my options are here... I'm seeing some immediate demand for what I'm building, which comes before I have that decision made or other loose-ends tied up, so I need to at least know what I'm allowed to do (or not allowed to do) for the time being, or if I need to switch to unrestricted components.
I may just choose to open source everything, and even use that as part of my marketing strategy, but I need to be very clear on what my options are here... I'm seeing some immediate demand for what I'm building, which comes before I have that decision made or other loose-ends tied up, so I need to at least know what I'm allowed to do (or not allowed to do) for the time being, or if I need to switch to unrestricted components.