5 ms·

What happened to the requirement to second-source semiconductors?

mpyne 5y ago
Same thing that happened to the requirement to code DoD software only in Ada: the requirement was scrapped when it became obvious the marketplace had shifted so much that the DoD would have to choose between second-sourcing obsolete gear or staying current with technology the market was postured to deliver.
- bsvgywer 5y ago
  There is absolutely no legal reason that the DoD can't take Intel/AMD/Whomever's designs to alternative manufacturers. Unfortunately in the name of making the richest among us richer, our leadership hardly exercises the DoD's blanket license of all things patented. Along the same lines, we no longer break up companies that dominate their industry, giving us fewer choices for alternative manufacturers.
  - ectopod 5y ago
    Does the DoD have the right to demand designs and knowhow from Intel and AMD? Patents alone are really not much use.
    - Supermancho 5y ago
      In the name of national security, I would hope so. Why wouldn't it? US Companies don't mean much if there's no US behind it. The issue is there is no overt war to drive the nationalism support necessary to push people into freely transferring knowledge. It seems to magically appear, when there's a feeling of imminent danger but ppl question it in times of peace.
  - xxpor 5y ago
    Are you sure they still do? Since 2015, patents are property for 5th amendment purposes: https://cip2.gmu.edu/2015/06/22/supreme-court-recognizes-that-patents-are-property/ https://cip2.gmu.edu/2015/06/22/supreme-court-recognizes-tha...
  - wmf 5y ago
    Maybe no legal reason but there is a technical reason: a chip designed for a specific manufacturing process (e.g. IBM Cu-32) can only be made on that process and there may only be one fab that can run the process. The chip would have to be somewhat redesigned to be manufactured elsewhere.
- a9h74j 5y ago
  > ADA IIRC (from the days of Electronics magazine) VHDL was also defined for the purpose of allowing US DOD to be manufacturer-independent.
moring 5y ago
What parts of a modern system can even be second-sourced?

Same thing that happened to the requirement to code DoD software only in Ada: the requirement was scrapped when it became obvious the marketplace had shifted so much that the DoD would have to choose between second-sourcing obsolete gear or staying current with technology the market was postured to deliver.

bsvgywer 5y ago
There is absolutely no legal reason that the DoD can't take Intel/AMD/Whomever's designs to alternative manufacturers. Unfortunately in the name of making the richest among us richer, our leadership hardly exercises the DoD's blanket license of all things patented. Along the same lines, we no longer break up companies that dominate their industry, giving us fewer choices for alternative manufacturers.
- ectopod 5y ago
  Does the DoD have the right to demand designs and knowhow from Intel and AMD? Patents alone are really not much use.
  - Supermancho 5y ago
    In the name of national security, I would hope so. Why wouldn't it? US Companies don't mean much if there's no US behind it. The issue is there is no overt war to drive the nationalism support necessary to push people into freely transferring knowledge. It seems to magically appear, when there's a feeling of imminent danger but ppl question it in times of peace.
- xxpor 5y ago
  Are you sure they still do? Since 2015, patents are property for 5th amendment purposes: https://cip2.gmu.edu/2015/06/22/supreme-court-recognizes-that-patents-are-property/ https://cip2.gmu.edu/2015/06/22/supreme-court-recognizes-tha...
- wmf 5y ago
  Maybe no legal reason but there is a technical reason: a chip designed for a specific manufacturing process (e.g. IBM Cu-32) can only be made on that process and there may only be one fab that can run the process. The chip would have to be somewhat redesigned to be manufactured elsewhere.
a9h74j 5y ago
> ADA IIRC (from the days of Electronics magazine) VHDL was also defined for the purpose of allowing US DOD to be manufacturer-independent.

moring 5y ago

What parts of a modern system can even be second-sourced?