Start-up OptNgn Offers a Floating Point VHDL Library as Open Source
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| OptNgn today announced that it is offering a floating point VHDL library
| under the GPLv3 Open Source License.
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http://www.us.design-reuse.com/news/18062/floating-point-vhdl-library-open-source.html
Rules need a re-write, say IP experts at forum
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| In software, experts on an open source panel agreed that the latest GPL
| version 3 license has fueled fears among large corporations who say some of
| its provisions could put many of their software patents in jeopardy. Both
| sides agreed companies increasingly use a complex mix of proprietary and open
| source code that can be complex to manage.
|
| "We worked with one company who thought they had 25 instances of open source
| code in their software, but it turned out they had 75," said Beyers of
| HP. "This has to be managed with a lot of rigor and precision," he added.
|
| In one well known example, Linksys had to release as open source code
| valuable proprietary software used in one of its home routers because it
| infringed a Linux license, said Mark Gisi, a senior IP manager for Wind
| River. "It shifted the whole market," he said.
|
| "By and large a number of engineers are starting to come up to speed on open
| source IP issues and the legal community is starting to come up to speed on
| it, too, but these two groups need to work together to resolve the issues,"
| Gisi said.
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http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/04/digiums_open_so.html
Recent:
GPL Project Watch List for the Week of 04/04/08
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| GPLv3 adoption surpassed 50% of projection
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http://gpl3.blogspot.com/2008/04/gpl-project-watch-list-for-week-of.html
How The GPL Can Save Your Ass
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| If you are the multi-billion dollar IT industry you stick you head in the
| sand and just keep making cars. It is after all, not your problem. That seems
| to be the attitude of almost every company with a vested interest in the
| computing market. There was a recent announcement indicating Intel and
| Microsoft have put up $10 million to fund research in parallel software. Hah!
| I'm going to laugh harder this time HAH, HAH! Ever here the phase pissing in
| the ocean, well this is more like throwing a match into the sun. We need
| more -- much more.
|
| [...]
|
| Second, the entire in industry must co-operate and be involved. We need
| everyone working on this problem. The best minds in high performance
| computing have been at it for quite a while and it is time to turn up the
| volume. Fantasies of telling your R&D guys to get on it are not enough.
| Trying to corral your Intellectual Property (IP) with trade secrets and
| patents is wishful thinking. The rocket scientists (and plenty of other smart
| people) have been working on this issue for a long time. You don't have the
| time to waste trying to expand your IP fiefdom. Instead start thinking about
| what happens when the next generation of products is of absolutely no
| interest to your customers.
|
| Third we need to respond quickly. There is no time for IP agreements,
| posturing, and NIH ego trips (Not Invented Here). We need leaders to
| recognize the scope and magnitude of this challenge and act. Before too long,
| it will not be unreasonable to have four or even eight cores in a desktop. A
| workstation or server may have double this amount. It would sure be nice if
| my software could effectively use all these cores.
|
| [...]
|
| Using the GPL will immediately remove issues that would normally choke such
| an important undertaking. First, the any IP barriers get pushed aside and
| everyone can cooperate openly
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http://www.linux-mag.com/id/5379
|
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