Nordic BLE DFU license/restrictions when used with other vendor MCUs

RE: Nordic BLE DFU license/restrictions when used with other vendor MCUs

Kenneth — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 10:05:34 GMT

I understand the question, but I think it will be difficult to give any clear statement. One could claim that the BLE DFU algorithm/mechanism could not be replicated independently without having the source code from the nRF5 SDK. Thereby it could be breaking the:

"4. This software, with or without modification, must only be used with a Nordic Semiconductor ASA integrated circuit."

RE: Nordic BLE DFU license/restrictions when used with other vendor MCUs

eriknorth — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:18:28 GMT

Hi Kenneth,

Is there anyone with whom I could get in touch regarding this questions?

BR,
/Erik

RE: Nordic BLE DFU license/restrictions when used with other vendor MCUs

eriknorth — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 14:02:55 GMT

Hi Kenneth,

Thanks for the answer, the link is very useful.

The unclear part now is the use of the Nordic BLE DFU protocol on other platforms without using any source code from nRF SDK which is under 5-Clause Nordic License and cannot be used on other MCUs than Nordics.

We have custom implementation of Nordic BLE DFU based on ESP-IDF and DFU protocol described here:
https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/sdk_nrf5_v17.0.0/lib_dfu_transport.html

Do we have to license the protocol or the DFU protocol can be used on other platforms too?

BR,
/Erik

RE: Nordic BLE DFU license/restrictions when used with other vendor MCUs

Kenneth — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 11:11:52 GMT

You will need to look into the license text for each of the individual deliveries you refer to, you can find an overview here what licenses we use and their implications:

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/nordic-blog/b/blog/posts/introducing-nordics-new-software-licensing-schemes