Re: [myhdl-list] DSX1000 Open-source Delta-Sigma DAC IP Core (MyHDL)

[Jan D. <ja...@ja...>]

George Pantazopoulos wrote:
> Hey all,
> 
> As I get back to business on my PhoenixSID project, I've decided to
> release some useful components, starting with an open-source Delta-Sigma
> audio DAC IP core (A DAC on your CPLD/FPGA for 'free').

As I told you before, great work, George.

However, I had a closer look and I have a serious problem
with the license. "Free for non-commercial use" suggests
that it is not free for commercial use.

To start with, this wouldn't qualify as an "open source"
license, so it shouldn't be advertized as such.

Secondly, I don't believe it's enforceable in practice. For
malicious users it won't therefore make a difference.
But what's worse, bona fide companies will simply avoid
looking at the info. They don't want to be exposed to
things that are not legally crystal-clear. And this
bad effect may extend to the whole project.

There was a time when such considerations were also valid
for open-source licenses, such as the GPL. However, by now
many great companies have learned to integrate open-source
projects in their products and profit from it.

I want commercial users as much as other ones. In fact,
I'll judge success or failure of the MyHDL project by its
commercial relevance. Consequently, I wouldn't want to
do anything to deter commercial users from using MyHDL.

Now that we are considering an open-source IP library, these
issues become relevant. As a minimum, any project should use an
open-source compliant license. I'd prefer to keep it more strict,
clear and simple, and simply require the LGPL.

Jan

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