AVR-Chat

----Original Message----
From: AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dave
McLaughlin Sent: 02 February 2010 11:58 To:
AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [AVR-Chat] Looking at
doing a datalogger using an XMEGA part - not sure which
storage technology to use  

> This all seems to be a grey area and there is no definite
> answer on their 
> website. In fact, it is impossible to determine if you
> need this just to 
> have the hardware present. I have no plans to show any
> kind of reference to 
> SD in my product or even have external access to it and I
> can't find any 
> information as to whether I need a license or not?

They are trying to get you to join so I suppose it's not in their
interests to make it clear!!

If you google a bit there seems to be a consensus that no license is
required if you use basic SPI to access the card as there is no patent
covering this. The license/patents appear to cover a proprietary method
of accessing the card. I have no way of verifying this information.

I guess you have to decide if you are prepared to run the (small) risk
of them coming after you for possible patent infringement.

-- 
Tim Mitchell