> Just to clarify: if I use GPLed or BSD-licensed tools to develop > hardware, as well as using GPLed symbols/footprints, am I obligated > to open-source the hardware design (the schematic, the PCB layout)? > > Common sense says no, but the degrees of freedom (hah hah) in open- > source licenses vary greatly, and if I cannot keep my designs > proprietary, then I can't use the tools.
In general, the *use* of a *tool* to produce something, doesn't assert license over that something. The exception is when the tool inserts - verbatim - some copyrighted content into the output. Thus, the concern over "use license" of geda's libraries, which would cover this insertion. If you create your own symbol/footprint libraries, there's nothing gEDA's license can do to stop you from producing proprietary boards with it. _______________________________________________ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user