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How does RISC-V get around the issue of patent mine fields? For example we've seen its really difficult to make a competitive codec without infringing and even
by WhitneyLand 11y ago
How does RISC-V get around the issue of patent mine fields? For example we've seen its really difficult to make a competitive codec without infringing and even when it's accomplished there is lingering doubt until it's challenged. I hope this situation is somehow much different.
- _chris_ 11y agoThis is why they have a RISC-V foundation, made up of big and small companies (Google, Oracle, HPE, etc.). Most (all?) of the RISC-V ISA is stuff that is out of patent and has a lineage going back more than 20 years. This issue is definitely important and it's not being ignored!
- adapteva 11y agoI am sure the RISC-V core team has a much better answer. Their mission statement is a good start. https://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2014/EECS-2014-146.pdf https://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2014/EECS-2014-1... The good news is that RISC has been around since the early 80's so any killer hardware patent will likely have expired by now. Note that the RISC-V ISA is separate from any hardware implementations. If you get fancy with your micro-architecture you can definitely trample on one of the 1000's of micro-architecture patents filed across the industry.
- wsxcde 11y agoPatterson says they've tried their best to make sure it doesn't infringe on patents they know about but they obviously can't provide any guarantees.