LSPL draft

The LibreSilicon Public License, LSPL for short, should:

1. be based on the AGPL
2. cover software, HDL code, schematics, layouts and netlists
3. allow dynamic linking of libraries in closed-source projects, like in the LGPL
4. extend the dynamic linking policy from the LGPL to IP-cores licensed under the LSPL
5. make use of the legal protection of topographies (layout designs) of semiconductor products

1. 1. 1. LIBRE SILICON PUBLIC LICENSE

Version 1, 29 January 2023

Copyright (C) 2023 Libresilicon <https://libresilicon.com/>

Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.

1. 1. 1. Preamble

The LibreSilicon Public License is a free, copyleft license for software and other kinds of works.

The licenses for most software and other practical works are designed to take away your freedom to share and change the works. By contrast, the LibreSilicon Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change all versions of a work and to make sure that you receive source code or can get it if you want it.

The LibreSilicon Public License is intended to allow developers of software and other works to make their work available to other developers and users, in compliance with principles of software freedom and open source. The LibreSilicon Public License applies to:

- Software, in source form and binary form.
- Hardware, including designed chips, PCBs, HDL code, schematics,
  layouts, topographies of semiconductor products, and netlists.
- Firmware, in source form and binary form.
- Documentation of any kind.

The LibreSilicon Public License applies to any work released under its terms, and also applies to any other work released under the same license, or a compatible license.

1. 1. 1. Terms and Conditions

1. Scope of the License

The LibreSilicon Public License applies to any work, and to any other work released under its terms or under a compatible license.

2. License of Any and All Rights Granted

The LibreSilicon Public License grants the recipient of a work permission to copy, modify, and redistribute the work and its accompanying material, and to distribute derivative works, subject to the following conditions:

A. The recipient may not sublicense or transfer the license to anyone other than the original recipient.

B. The terms and conditions of the LibreSilicon Public License must be preserved in all copies or modifications of the work.

C. Any work released under the LibreSilicon Public License must contain a copy of the license.

D. Any work released under the LibreSilicon Public License must be released under the same license, or a compatible license.

3. Copyleft

The intent of the LibreSilicon Public License is to preserve the rights of the developer or any derivative works created under the terms of the license.

The following provisions of the LibreSilicon Public License are specifically intended to ensure this purpose:

A. All works released under the LibreSilicon Public License must be licensed under the same or a compatible license, and must contain a copy of the license.

B. Any work derived from a work released under the LibreSilicon Public License must be released under the LibreSilicon Public License or a compatible license.

C. The LibreSilicon Public License is not intended to restrict the rights of users to modify their own works, or to restrict their own rights in works created under the license.

4. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor

The LibreSilicon Public License does not discriminate against any particular field of endeavor. The license is intended to be technology- and industry-neutral, and applies to all works developed for any purpose.

5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups

The LibreSilicon Public License does not discriminate against any person or group of persons.

6. No Discrimination Against Countries

The LibreSilicon Public License does not discriminate against any person or group on the basis of national origin.

7. Distribution of Source Code

The LibreSilicon Public License requires that all source code must be available to all users.

8. Distribution of Executable Versions

The LibreSilicon Public License requires that all executable versions of a work must be made available to all users.

9. Distribution of Derivative Works

The LibreSilicon Public License requires that all derivative works must be made available to all users.

10. Dynamic Linking

The LibreSilicon Public License is compatible with the GNU General Public License's dynamic linking provisions, allowing libraries licensed under the LSPL to be linked to applications released under the GPL.

11. Intellectual Property Rights

The LibreSilicon Public License grants the recipient of a work the right to use, modify, and redistribute the work in accordance with the terms of the license. The recipient may not sublicense or otherwise transfer the license to another person or entity.

The LibreSilicon Public License also provides legal protection for the topographies of semiconductor products, allowing users to make copies of the topographies for their own use without infringing the intellectual property rights of the designer or manufacturer.

The LibreSilicon Public License also permits users to develop and distribute their own derivative works or enhancements to works released under the license, subject to the terms and conditions of the license.

1. 1. 1. Termination

The rights granted under the LibreSilicon Public License terminate automatically if recipients are found to be in violation of the terms of the license.

1. 1. 1. Disclaimer of Warranty

The LibreSilicon Public License is provided without warranty of any kind. The recipient assumes all risks associated with the use of the work, and must indemnify the original developer and any downstream recipients against any liability arising from their use of the work.

1. 1. 1. Limitation of Liability

The LibreSilicon Public License does not limit the liability of the original developer or any downstream recipient for any damages arising from their use of the work.

1. 1. 1. Versions of the License

The original LibreSilicon Public License was published in January 2023. The current version of the license is Version 1. This is the only version of the license, and any work released under this license must be released under Version 1 or a compatible version.