This online EE Times article by Michael Barr (editor-in-chief of Embedded Systems Design) and David Beal (general manager, Embedix Tools, Lineo) debunks some of the myths surrounding the legality of using Linux and open source software in embedded systems, and suggests some “Rules to code by” to ensure protection of intellectual property. Barr and Beal write . . .

“. . . A common myth is that the use of any piece of open source code, including Linux, requires the user to give away the source code to their proprietary application. In truth, most open source licenses protect only the borrowed code and do not place any restrictions on other software you might develop for use alongside it . . .”

“. . . Of course, there are many situations in which an engineering organization might want to keep its own code proprietary even when that code is surrounded by Linux's open source code. This is easily accomplished provided three rules of thumb are followed during development . . .”

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