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

[eric]

> Eric,
> 
> I didn't notice that WinAVR was using FreeBSD Licensing. 
I understand
> that it is considered easier to comply with than GNU. The 
reason
> I assumed GNU was the connection with gcc. If your 
intention (wrt. Boot.h)
> is to
> release under FreeBSD, I believe I won't have a problem. 
(IANAL either :-) )
> 

Technically WinAVR is nothing more than a collection of 
open source projects, each having their own license. For 
example, GNU Binutils, GCC, avrdude, AVaRICE, GDB are 
licensed with the GPL. avr-libc is licensed with the 
FreeBSD license. PN is licensed with something else (and I 
discovered has recently changed licenses with new 
releases.) So you have to check the license screen when you 
install WinAVR for all the different licensing.

The bootloader API, boot.h, is a part of the avr-libc 
project and is licensed with the FreeBSD license.

Eric Weddington

 
> Thanks,
> Dan  
> 
> (Feel free to forward to the avr-libc-dev list, I did not 
because
>  I am not familiar with the follow-up protocol there.)
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: address@hidden [mailto:address@hidden 
> Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 6:20 PM
> To: Sabo, Dan; address@hidden
> Subject: RE: GCC Bootloader - Working Code
> 
> 
> 
> [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
> 
>