LibreSilicon Public License

Legal Framework:

For Chip-Designs, Chips and EDA Software we have 4 underlying legal frameworks:

• Copyright (applies to EDA Software, others?)
• Trademark (applies to EDA Software name, ...)
• Chip Topography https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halbleiterschutzrecht , https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiconductor_Chip_Protection_Act_of_1984 , https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuit_layout_design_protection
• Patents

We have the following works that we want coverable:

• EDA Software (compilable sourcecode, binary, scripts)
• GDS2(/OASIS/MAG/...) designs
• Masks
• Wafers
• Packaged chips
• PCB Designs
• PCBs
• Assembled product

Open legal questions:

• Does the copyright apply to hardware?

Requirements for the Libresilicon Public License:

• Free License
• Explicit handling of Derived works
• Cloud/Network services
• Providing changes to the work back to the original authors
• AI training to be covered
• Either ensure that a derived work automatically complies with the license (regarding cloud/network services), or provide alternatives to delivering changes to the customers, or allow unintential violations

Old draft for a License Generator: https://pdk.libresilicon.com/license.html