Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
were originally edited on the wiki at freedomdefined.org/OSHW, which hosts all the indi-
vidual endorsements of the definition and add your name to the list. To show that your
which signifies to the community that your hardware abides by the definition and creates
a social contract with the community. Numerous translations of the definition are hosted
The following text was taken from
http://www.oshwa.org/definition/
.
Open Source Hardware (OSHW) Statement of Principles
1.0
Open source hardware is hardware whose design is made publicly available so
that anyone can study, modify, distribute, make, and sell the design or hardware
based on that design. The hardware's source, the design from which it is made,
is available in the preferred format for making modifications to it. Ideally, open
source hardware uses readily-available components and materials, standard pro-
cesses, open infrastructure, unrestricted content, and open-source design tools
to maximize the ability of individuals to make and use hardware. Open source
hardware gives people the freedom to control their technology while sharing
knowledge and encouraging commerce through the open exchange of designs.
Open Source Hardware (OSHW) Definition 1.0
The Open Source Hardware (OSHW) Definition 1.0 is based on the Open
Source Definition for Open Source Software. That definition was created by
Bruce Perens and the Debian developers as the Debian Free Software
Guidelines.
Introduction
Open Source Hardware (OSHW) is a term for tangible artifacts—machines,
devices, or other physical things—whose design has been released to the public
in such a way that anyone can make, modify, distribute, and use those things.
This definition is intended to help provide guidelines for the development and
evaluation of licenses for Open Source Hardware.
Hardware is different from software in that physical resources must always
be committed for the creation of physical goods. Accordingly, persons or com-
panies producing items (“products”) under an OSHW license have an obliga-
