Re: Proposal of new new open-source license for graphics (TERO-GL-1.0)

Hi Bruce,



We completely agree and we have drafted the license with exactly that in mind. In the absence of other rights, especially patent and design rights, the schematics may indeed be used to create a physical product.



Best Regards

Morten Fruelund
IPR Manager

Energivej 51
5260 Odense S
Denmark
Cell: +45 28 93 03 22
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>





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________________________________
From: Bruce Perens <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 21:38
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Cc: Morten Fruelund <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [License-discuss] Proposal of new new open-source license for graphics (TERO-GL-1.0)

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In my discussions with proponents of various Open Hardware licenses, I have been careful to reinforce the point that a schematic copyright, absent of a patent which can actually be licensed, may restrict the copying and redistribution of the schematic, but not the manufacture of the documented device. This is to everyone's advantage, lest we start having attempted enforcement of schematic copyrights on books and licensing of our design output which is informed by them. Consider, for example, if Teledyne had to license Horowitz and Hill for the derivative use of Art of Electronics in its manufacture.

    Thanks

    Bruce

On Tue, Oct 28, 2025 at 1:17 PM Bruce Perens <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
In 3.1.2.2, When the OSD was created, we had source-code control systems, but they were not hosted online. These days an online git repository seems to be more than sufficient as a declaration of changes, and should be sufficient to fulfill a requirement to document changes. Requirement of an additional copyright notice is a good deal more oblique and not optimal.

In 1.5: specification that the licensed material consists of specific file formats excluding software seems likely to shoot you in the foot eventually because of the ephemeral nature of file formats, And this is also so specific to your application that there is no use for other parties to adopt the license and thus less incentive for OSI to approve the license.
An Open Source license will inevitably be applied to software, perhaps even by your own folks who don't have good access to counsel. You also list things that run awry of 17 USC 102(b) in the US and similar law in most other nations. Schematics are not generally held to be copyrightable. I don't see that OSI has an incentive to assist in protecting that which is not legally protected.

And then we get to the nature of graphics which can be used in simulation, but not manufacture. This seems to be that you intended another use restriction in contravention of the Fields of Endeavor clause - manufacturing certainly is one - but I haven't so far stumbled across the term that implements this.

    Thanks

    Bruce

On Tue, Oct 28, 2025 at 11:50 AM Morten Fruelund via License-discuss <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
I am representing Teradyne Robotics A/S, a division of Teradyne inc. (https://www.teradyne.com/), that provides robot arms (https://www.universal-robots.com/)  and autonomous mobile robots (https://mobile-industrial-robots.com/).

Teradyne Robotics A/S is proposing a new open-source license for graphics (TERO-GL-1.0), and I am reaching out to this forum to collect feedback on the proposed license before submitting the license for a formal review by the OSI.

The proposal can be found on this GitHub page: https://github.com/UniversalRobots/TERO-GL [github.com]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/UniversalRobots/TERO-GL__;!!GenOTVeOfQ!QbPUtT1DDeaT0Zq4OWf55H3nVrbotJKfnmJI3RKIiuimJwDm1t5Eq5SxeqHRkBeYKqeEW3r-la4NBFsBPIPuxYo7rLk$>,
    where the proposed license is provided as the license file (https://github.com/UniversalRobots/TERO-GL/blob/main/LICENSE [github.com]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/UniversalRobots/TERO-GL/blob/main/LICENSE__;!!GenOTVeOfQ!QbPUtT1DDeaT0Zq4OWf55H3nVrbotJKfnmJI3RKIiuimJwDm1t5Eq5SxeqHRkBeYKqeEW3r-la4NBFsBPIPuG25L6Fg$>), and
the motivation is provided as the README file (https://github.com/UniversalRobots/TERO-GL/blob/main/README.md [github.com]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/UniversalRobots/TERO-GL/blob/main/README.md__;!!GenOTVeOfQ!QbPUtT1DDeaT0Zq4OWf55H3nVrbotJKfnmJI3RKIiuimJwDm1t5Eq5SxeqHRkBeYKqeEW3r-la4NBFsBPIPuSp10Psc$>).



Best Regards

Morten Fruelund

IPR Manager

Energivej 51
5260 Odense S
Denmark
Cell: +45 28 93 03 22
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>



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Please note that this message may contain confidential information. If you have received this message by mistake, please inform the sender of the mistake, then delete the message from your system without making, distributing or retaining any copies of it. Although we believe that the message and any attachments are free from viruses and other errors that might affect the computer or IT system where it is received and read, the recipient opens the message at his or her own risk. We assume no responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the receipt or use of this message. When we process personal data relating to physical persons, such processing will meet the requirements of applicable data protection legislation and will be in accordance with our Privacy Policy.<https://www.teradyne.com/privacy-statement>

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Bruce Perens K6BP


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Bruce Perens K6BP
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