[avr-libc-dev] RE: GCC Bootloader - Working Code

[eric]

[Thread was about getting the Bootloader API for avr-libc.]
> Thanks, it looks great.
> 
> Upon looking at your Copyright notice I have become 
concerned. I also
> see that it is typical of the include files. I had not 
noticed that all
> of WinAvr is not released under the GNU copyleft.
> 
> Is this a problem? If I take your redistribution 
requirements literally
> does it mean I have to use all of my ROM to reproduce 
copyright strings?

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. If you are concerned about 
anything in any software license, you should seek legal 
counsel who can provide you with legal interpretations. The 
below are my personal opinions only.

Two things here:
1. It is a Good Thing that avr-libc is not licensed under 
the GPL. If it was licensed under the GPL then anyone could 
request copies of your source. If this is for a commercial 
product then this may not be desirable. The avr-libc 
license, the FreeBSD license, allows you to keep your code 
proprietary if desired, which can be desirable for a 
commercial product.

2. In the LICENSE file in the avr-libc CVS, there is this 
condition:
---------
* Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above 
copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following 
disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials 
provided with the distribution.
---------

Note that the copyright notice, et al. only needs to be 
reproduced in the DOCUMENTATION AND / OR OTHER MATERIALS 
provided with the distribution (emphasis added).

So it is NOT necessary to reproduce (display) the copyright 
message, etc. in the actual embedded device. You should 
reproduce the copyright message, etc. in, for example, the 
device's user manual.

I am CC'ing the avr-libc-dev list with this just for the 
record and to see if anyone else has anything to say on 
this.

HTH,
Eric