On Mon, 5 Jul 2004 11:07:03 +0200 (CEST) "Andreas" lists@myratz.de wrote:
Simo Sorce wrote:
Is it possible to put the hardware design (e.g. schematics) under GPL as well?
Afaik circuits layouts have specific protection. It's called "patent" but it is much like copyright.
This applies for the chip design and propably for the reference implementation of the manufacturer of the microprocessor.
This applies _not_ for the circuit design outside on top of the reference design. For a microcontroller based application not only the microcontroller is needed, but parts and componentes specific to the application as well.
I don't know about the rest of the EU but I do know that Belgium has a sui generis law for microchip designs that protects the specific topology of the design (eg, the physical implementation). At least I thought it was sui generis, might just be part of copyright law though.
greets, Wim