Licensing Open Source Hardware - Building Open Source Hardware - page 47

Where does that leave you? First, take the time to document your project. Regardless
of whether the hardware is protected by intellectual property regulations, documentation
is a big part of what separates open source hardware from hardware that merely lacks in-
tellectual property protections (and go read Chapter 14 , Taxonomy of Hardware Docu-
mentation ) . Second, if your project has parts that are protected by copyright, pick a per-
missive license. This makes it easy for people to use your project, and it gives them guid-
ance on how you would prefer they use it. Third, a trademark may end up being the most
important type of protection for open source hardware projects looking to scale up. Being
able to show the world that your hardware comes from you can go a long way in building
your reputation and an enthusiastic community for your work.
Resources
Here are resources from which to learn more about the topics discussed in this chapter.
General IP News Sources
Public Knowledge: www.publicknowledge.org
Peer to Patent: www.peertopatent.org
Article One: www.articleonepartners.com
Ask Patents: www.patents.stackexchange.com
EFF Chair to Eliminate Stupid Patents: www.eff.org/about/staff/daniel-nazer
Resources from the Copyright Office
Copyright Office circular: www.copyright.gov/circs/circ01.pdf
Resources from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office about Trademarks
Trademark Basics: http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/index.jsp
Trademark Process: http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/TMIN.jsp