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Is BLE changing licensing policy?

Martin

Sorry for the non-tech. question but I just heard that BlueTooth group is significantly changing BLE licensing policy. Maybe it's some kind of FUD but it should be mandatory to pay a thousands of $ for BLE licensing fee (BLE patents) per one developed device model that is using a BLE module and going to the market. Even the definition of own attributes (UUIDS) would be charged. Is it true? If so, it's going to kill all start-up projects and projects not intended to sell high volumes of BLE enabled devices...

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    Is there really not some exclusion for low-volume production? E.g. if we make some special sensor with BLE that will be produced let's say in only 100 pieces, then price of licence significantly affect price of the device. Or if someone will come with some startup project making small first batch of devices then license price will block selling it and spreading it out. This makes a huge advantage for big companies that can start produce with high volumes where the fee become negligible and make disadvantage for small companies. I think it will lead to creating new license-free technology as an alternative for BLE. Maybe it will be enough to use alternative stack like Gasell or something else on existing hardware if HW is not covered by Bluetooth SIG patents...

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  • 0

    Is there really not some exclusion for low-volume production? E.g. if we make some special sensor with BLE that will be produced let's say in only 100 pieces, then price of licence significantly affect price of the device. Or if someone will come with some startup project making small first batch of devices then license price will block selling it and spreading it out. This makes a huge advantage for big companies that can start produce with high volumes where the fee become negligible and make disadvantage for small companies. I think it will lead to creating new license-free technology as an alternative for BLE. Maybe it will be enough to use alternative stack like Gasell or something else on existing hardware if HW is not covered by Bluetooth SIG patents...

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  • 0 in reply to Martin

    There is currently no way to avoid this fee if you want to qualify your design and use the Bluetooth logo and similar in marketing, no matter how low-volume your product is. You can choose to not qualify your product, but the legal implications of doing so is not clear.

    I do see your arguments, but this is the way it is, so I'm afraid I can't do much about it.

    Since this fee is for Bluetooth qualification, it doesn't affect devices using proprietary protocols in any way.

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