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> software could get locked in to using these custom extensions the question arises: can such extensions be patented? we've seen already that APIs cannot get
by znpy 3y ago
> software could get locked in to using these custom extensions
the question arises: can such extensions be patented?
we've seen already that APIs cannot get patented (see the Oracle vs Google litigation).
If Qualcomm was to develop a set of extension, but other players in the risc-v space could implement some equivalent that's ISA/binary compatible... I wouldn't see any issue with that.
Am I being too optimistic ?
- colejohnson66 3y agoIANAL, but yes, ISA extensions can be patented. For example, the x86-64 extension ("Long Mode") was created by AMD, and Intel had to pay to license it.[0] Those patents expired a few years ago, allowing Microsoft and Apple to write x86-64 to ARM translators freely. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86-64#Licensing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86-64#Licensing
- rwmj 3y agoRISC-V has two sorts of extensions. The custom extensions I mentioned in my post above are vendor-specific and they can do what they want, patent them, keep them secret, whatever. However the standard extensions which go through ratification by RISC-V International and are meant to be implemented by anyone must have a royalty-free patent grant (see: https://riscv.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/RISC-V-Amended-Internal-Regulations-APPROVED-2022-Feb-17.pdf https://riscv.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/RISC-V-Amended-...)