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This is incorrect. Copyright protects the artistic layout of the schematic, not the functional circuit itself. The circuit design is an uncopyrightable 'system'

This is incorrect. Copyright protects the artistic layout of the schematic, not the functional circuit itself. The circuit design is an uncopyrightable 'system'. A competitor can legally use the information to build their own product; they just can't reproduce the drawing. The schematic is also incredibly valuable. It's a blueprint to Apple's design philosophy and the only public map of how their custom silicon actually functions in the real world. That's priceless information for any competitor.

Aurornis 1y ago
Sorry, this is incorrect. The schematic copyrighted. The logical connection of components is not, but the literal schematic PDF is indeed copyrighted. The schematic is also not “priceless” information. It does not give any secret information about how the Apple part functions. Most of it is generic connections between parts which are not the least bit surprising to any experienced EE. I have actual real world experience working on these types of systems. I don’t understand how so many HN commenters are so confident about their EE knowledge when they clearly don’t have the experience.
- varispeed 1y ago
  You are now agreeing with the core point: the functional design isn't copyrightable, only the literal drawing is. The entire discussion is about the value of that uncopyrightable information, not the right to distribute the PDF file. Focusing on the PDF's copyright is like arguing a treasure map is worthless because the paper it's printed on is copyrighted. The value is the map, not the paper. No one suggests every connection is a revelation. The value is in the complete, validated system architecture for a black-box SoC. It’s the specific power sequencing, the exact filtering on high-speed lines, and the full support circuitry taken as a whole. That integrated blueprint is the "secret sauce," and its value is self-evident, regardless of any single engineer's experience with generic circuits.

Aurornis 1y ago

Sorry, this is incorrect. The schematic copyrighted. The logical connection of components is not, but the literal schematic PDF is indeed copyrighted. The schematic is also not “priceless” information. It does not give any secret information about how the Apple part functions. Most of it is generic connections between parts which are not the least bit surprising to any experienced EE. I have actual real world experience working on these types of systems. I don’t understand how so many HN commenters are so confident about their EE knowledge when they clearly don’t have the experience.

varispeed 1y ago
You are now agreeing with the core point: the functional design isn't copyrightable, only the literal drawing is. The entire discussion is about the value of that uncopyrightable information, not the right to distribute the PDF file. Focusing on the PDF's copyright is like arguing a treasure map is worthless because the paper it's printed on is copyrighted. The value is the map, not the paper. No one suggests every connection is a revelation. The value is in the complete, validated system architecture for a black-box SoC. It’s the specific power sequencing, the exact filtering on high-speed lines, and the full support circuitry taken as a whole. That integrated blueprint is the "secret sauce," and its value is self-evident, regardless of any single engineer's experience with generic circuits.