I. INTRODUCTION Semiconductor cores are not software in the conventional sense of that term. Even so, perhaps for lack of a readily available and more tailored framework, the tools used to license software have increasingly been applied to these works. This Article reviews the technology and structure of the semiconductor core industry and analyzes the application of open source license principles to semiconductor cores. Specifically, this Article focuses on the use of the GNU General Public License ("GPL"), arguably the most popular open source license. (1) As discussed below, the GPL is not perfectly suited to deal with the complexities of semiconductor cores. This Article shows where the provisions of the GPL clash with the technological and commercial needs of the semiconductor core industry, offers practical recommendations for using cores licensed pursuant to that framework, and concludes by offering suggestions for license provisions that would be more appropriate for the semiconductor core context. Analysis of issues raised by the GPL also highlights many of the more complex issues of open source licensing in the context of semiconductor cores, and can provide insights to help interpret and analyze problems raised by other licenses as well.
