rogerk@mips.COM (Roger B.A. Klorese) (06/29/90)
In article <PCG.90Jun27205445@odin.cs.aber.ac.uk> pcg@cs.aber.ac.uk (Piercarlo Grandi) writes: >Does MIPS license the architecture and implementation to their various >sources, or do they just use them as fabrication facilities? All of MIPS' semiconductor partners (Integrated Device Technology, LSI Logic, NEC, Performance Semiconductor, and Siemens, in alphabetical order) are required by their licenses to build fully pin-compatible versions at standard speeds and from our tapes of the R2000A and R3000 processor families (CPU, FP), as well as any future CMOS parts. In addition, they may use the architecture to build additional ISA-compatible parts or extensions. So far, this has resulted into excursions into standard-cell libraries, mil-spec, and implementations more conducive to embedded applications, among others. All sales and marketing functions for the parts, in addition to the process and fab, are done by the semiconductor companies. MIPS collects license revenue, royalties, and software licenses. (I'm not sure about the terms of the ECL license, but I'd be surprised if it's not similar.) -- ROGER B.A. KLORESE MIPS Computer Systems, Inc. phone: +1 408 720-2939 MS 4-02 950 DeGuigne Dr. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 voicemail: +1 408 524-7421 rogerk@mips.COM {ames,decwrl,pyramid}!mips!rogerk "I'm the NLA" "Maybe this world is another planet's hell." -- Aldous Huxley