License

Bug Labs is committed to the principles of open source licensing, both for the software we provide and the designs of our hardware. This document outlines the various types of rights we grant in elements of our products:


Software on the BUG.

Unless we indicate otherwise, the software that runs on the BUG is licensed under open source terms.

When the software is owned by a third party, we pass along the terms of that third party's license.

When the software is owned by us, we license it under the GPLv3, unless third party license terms require us to use a different license (such as Eclipse).

This means that for all the open source software on the BUG:

  • Copying is Allowed. You may make as many copies of the code as you want. Running the code on a machine is not restricted.
  • Modifying is Allowed. You may modify the code.
  • Distribution is Allowed. You may redistribute the code, or your modified versions.
  • Reciprocity / Share Alike is Usually Required. Most of the code on the BUG is licensed under terms, such as GPLv3, that have a "share alike" or "copyleft" provision. Different licenses implement this concept in different ways, so you should review the applicable license terms carefully. Click here to see a list of all the applicable licenses. For more information about GPLv3, see the Free Software Foundation's FAQ at http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html.
  • Attribution is Required. You must provide attribution for the author of the applicable code with each copy you distribute.

BUG Hardware Designs.

We provide the following kinds of materials describing the BUG hardware and how it is built:

  • Schematics
  • Bills of materials ("BOMs")
  • CAD files for the plastic housings

We generally license these materials to you under GPLv3. Open source software licenses do not always provide a great fit for these kinds of materials, but our goal is to track the principles of open source software as much as we can. When we license these materials under GPLv3, the "source code" is the file format that can be manipulated by the relevant tool--such as the CAD design tool, rather than the resulting layout document.

This means that for these Bug hardware design materials:

  • Copying is Allowed. You can make as many copies of the materials as you want.
  • Modifying is Allowed. You may modify the materials.
  • Distribution is Allowed. You may redistribute the materials, or your modified versions.
  • Reciprocity / Share Alike is Required. The GPLv3's copyleft provisions apply as with software code.
  • Attribution is Required. You must provide attribution for the author of the applicable materials with each copy you distribute.

Can I make my own BUG and/or modules?

That's ok with us, as long as you comply with applicable laws and regulations and don't infringe other parties' IP.

There is technology needed from third parties in order for you to actually make a BUG. For example, you will need a CAD tool to manipulate the housing design, you'll need to be (or hire) a manufacturer to make the housing for you, and you will need to source the components on the BOMs.

You are responsible for complying with laws and getting FCC or other certifications for your device, and you are also responsible for conducting your own investigations as to whether any patent or other IP licenses are needed from third parties. Consistent with the principles of open source licensing, we provide the software and design materials in the hope they will be useful, but we provide them AS IS without warranty, including WITHOUT WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.