[Discuss] Possible abuse of the term "open source hardware"

[Windell H. Oskay]

On Mar 15, 2013, at 1:54 PM, malcolm stanley <a.malcolm.stanley at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hey, can i play too?
> 
> I got this email from Nordic Semi and when I went to look there were NO open source drawings or other materials at all on the vendor web site...

To be fair, what they have actually announced is that their kickstarter is live.  They don't begin shipping until July, at the soonest.    The OSHW definition requires that the documentation is released with the product, so let's all check back in July.   :)

Worth noting is that while they haven't explicitly used the term "open source hardware" in the text of their kickstarter page, they *are* using the OSHW logo (the version that says "open source hardware".)  As far as I can tell, it will be their first OSHW product.


> Ultra low power (ULP) RF specialist Nordic Semiconductor ASA (OSE: NOD) today announces from wireless startup 'Open Source RF' – launched onKickStarter.com – the world's first 'Arduino' compatible open-source micro-computer 


Windell H. Oskay, Ph.D.
Co-Founder and Chief Scientist
Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories
175 San Lazaro Ave, STE 150 
Sunnyvale CA 94086
http://www.evilmadscientist.com/