Comment by fidotron

Comment by fidotron 14 hours ago

RISC-V implementations are going to prove to be absolute patent minefields.

Just because something is open source will not stop you from being stung during manufacturing, rather like how Android deployments are not free.

ryao 14 hours ago

So far, patent lawsuits have been more of a problem for those using ARM designs (Qualcomm) than those using RISC-V designs. The Raspberry Pi foundation, Western Digital and Nvidia have successfully put RISC-V designs into their products without any issues. The first two even made their core designs open source (see Hazard3 and SweRV).

Reply View 19 replies

fidotron 14 hours ago

How are SiFive going to protect their IP when everyone is free to copy it?
Patents.

Reply View | 18 replies
- RetroTechie 14 hours ago
  
  You're not free to copy SiFive's IP cores.
  Open ISA != all implementations of it are free (although in RISC-V case, many are).
  
  Reply View | 6 replies
  
  fidotron 13 hours ago
  
  Sorry, that was poorly worded.
  My point is that if RISC-V takes off people will struggle to do decent implementations of it without stepping on the toes of the people already in the area.
  I'd go so far as to say this is the entire SiFive strategy.
  
  Reply View | 5 replies
- ryao 14 hours ago
  
  Anyone is free to make a RISC-V CPU without infringing on SiFive’s IP.
  
  Reply View | 10 replies
  
  fidotron 14 hours ago
  
  Which in practice will mean free to make simplistic implementations using the lessons of twenty years ago.
  If this was a winning strategy those open source implementations of SuperH cores would have been incredibly popular instead of dying in obscurity.
  
  Reply View | 9 replies