SD license for design with AM3358

shiwei luan63

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AM3358, AM3352

Hi,

I am designing a board with Beaglebone Black as a reference. Instead of the Linux system, I use StarterWare to generate the MLO and my own application file to run AM3358 as a advanced MCU.

I copy the MLO and application files into SD card and set the board to boot from SD first. My question is: should I pay the SD licensing fee if I want to release this design as a product?

Thank you,

Shiwei

over 10 years ago

0 Biser Gatchev-XID over 10 years ago

TI__Guru**** 393215 points

No, you don't need to pay any licensing fee.

0 shiwei luan63 over 10 years ago in reply to Biser Gatchev-XID

Prodigy 140 points

Hi Biser,
As listed by SD association: " www.sdcard.org/.../ " , there are several license agreements for the manufactures of SD host products, SD memory cards, combination cards, and SDIO cards with flash memory or SD ancillary products.
Since I plan to design a board with AM3358 that will boot from the SD card, why I can waive this agreement? Maybe TI already paid the licensing fee for its Sitara processors?
Could you give me more explanations?
Thank you,
Shiwei

0 Biser Gatchev-XID over 10 years ago in reply to shiwei luan63

TI__Guru**** 393215 points

Since you will be manufacturing neither a SD Host product, nor a SD Card product, you don't have to pay any licensing fees. Licensing does not include end-user equipment.

0 shiwei luan63 over 10 years ago in reply to Biser Gatchev-XID

Prodigy 140 points

Thank you for your quick reply, Biser.
But I am still confused. The SD association states that the manufacture should pay license fee to produce "SD standard host products (eg. cell phones, cameras or computers) or SD ancillary products (Adapters, SD I/O cards, etc.)". Some online discussions also say that if the company will make and sell products which host SD Cards or are interoperable with SD Cards, the company will need to join the SD Association and sign the HALA.
My board will boot from a SD card and also read/store data from/in the SD card as a general storage. It looks like my board will be a SD Host Product similar to a cell phone?
The AM335x Evaluation Module from TI also includes a SD connector that is actually my reference design, does TI also pay the SD licensing fee?

Thank you,
Shiwei

0 Rogerio Almeida over 10 years ago in reply to shiwei luan63

TI__Mastermind 26285 points

You can review the typical HALA (Host/Ancillary Product License Agreement) license: www.sd-3c.com/.../HALA.pdf
And this page lists TI as a HALA licensee: www.sd-3c.com/.../HALA Licensees.pdf
There is also a FAQ here: www.sd-3c.com/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx
Now if you need/do not need a license, your counsel needs to review the above resources and determine whether a separate license agreement is needed or not.

0 HS FAE Germany over 9 years ago in reply to Rogerio Almeida

TI__Mastermind 32760 points

Hello Biser,
my customer develops a HMI with the AM3352 for a power supply and has the same concerns with the SD card licensing. You said that licensing is not needed. Then is the customer allowed to print the SD card logo?

Regards, Holger

0 Biser Gatchev-XID over 9 years ago in reply to HS FAE Germany

TI__Guru**** 393215 points

Hi,

See the post above yours, by Rogerio. The customer's legal department have to resolve this with the logo owner, not with TI.

0 HS FAE Germany over 9 years ago in reply to Biser Gatchev-XID

TI__Mastermind 32760 points

that's right. The customer ask for our experiences.

0 Biser Gatchev-XID over 9 years ago in reply to HS FAE Germany

TI__Guru**** 393215 points

This is a technical forum, we do not resolve legal issues here.

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SD license for design with AM3358