Re: [libreplanet-discuss] Equivalent of GPLv3 for hardware???

[Pen-Yuan Hsing]

On 30/03/16 13:45, Mike Gerwitz wrote:
> On Wed, Mar 30, 2016 at 12:23:26 +0100, Pen-Yuan Hsing wrote:
> > I really like the idea of copyleft and licenses such as the GPLv3. What is
> > the closest equivalent of GPLv3 for hardware?
>
> This is rms' position:
>
> https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-hardware-designs.en.html

Thanks Mike for the link, I just took another look at his essay again. 
as I understand it, he thinks the situation for hardware is different 
but generally recommends the GPLv3 for hardware *designs*. RMS also 
correctly points out the problem of patents in hardware, which I alluded 
to (but didn't make clear) in the original question. My understanding of 
this problem is that even if you release your hardware under a copyleft 
license, the license or only apply to one embodiment of your hardware 
because it is one single expression of a work?

However, since patents require prior art, if you create something and 
released its design and the physical portions under a copyleft license, 
you are essentially putting all of that into the "prior art" realm, 
which would prevent others from patenting it? Would this work to attain 
the equivalent of copyleft for hardware?

IngeGNUe also mentioned releasing the hardware under CC BY-SA, which is 
essentially a form of copyleft (please correct me if I am wrong). How 
does that compare to releasing the hardware under GPLv3? Or is there 
another license that addresses this issue, which leads to my original 
question of if there's an hardware compatible license that is in the 
*spirit* of copyleft? I say spirit because copyright (and hence copyleft 
per set) might not be the biggest issue for hardware.

This might become a real issue for me in the coming months since I'm 
trying to sign up for a maker/hacker related meeting to discuss and 
brainstorm hardware projects...

Thanks!!