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It's not clear why ARM can't copyright their specific microprocessor designs and license based on that.
by caf 14y ago
It's not clear why ARM can't copyright their specific microprocessor designs and license based on that.
- rayiner 14y agoBecause that only protects against literal copying. It doesn't prevent clean-room reimplementation of innovative circuits, structures, etc.
- caf 14y agoIt also protects against derivative works. I don't think it's obvious that they should naturally be allowed to prevent a clean-room reimplementation. The real innovative and creative work is in the designs that would be protected by copyright - the alleged "innovative circuits" subject to patent are really just being used as patent traps to prevent a clean-room reimplementation of the architecture - as anti-interoperability measures, in other words.