Hello Stuart
I think the question is the other way around, what happens if you use GPL/ed footprints/components in an commerical design, Will somebody come along and say that you'll have to give the schematics/pcb files to the public becuase you used GPL'ed Symbols/Footprints to produce the board. Kind of like with a few manufacturers of Routers who used a linux based Firewall and were forced to release the source of their firmware, but I don't know if this would apply to using some footprints too.I do, however, have one question: Exactly how does the gpl play into the
use of elements/footprints in commerical designs? Would someone on this
list who is who has been there/done that, chime in?! =20
IIRC, we've talked about this previously, and the consensus is that the gEDA Suite is GPL'ed, but there is no reason that non-GPL symbols can't be used with it. Moreover, if you have proprietary symbols, I can't imagine that they would be "contaminated" by using them in a GPL'ed program. I imagine the situation is similar to editing proprietary documents using OpenOffice, or creating proprietary designs using gEDA, or compiling proprietary programs using gcc.
Of course, IANAL.
Stuart
Maybe it would be possible to get the footprints/symbols under a license similar to the one of the libc, which allows you to use it in commercial projects without having to release the source of your project.
ciao
Florian
