CAN License

electrobabble
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2018 3:15 pm

CAN License

Postby electrobabble » Wed Sep 12, 2018 8:45 pm

Latest release of IDF contains this License notice:
Warning

Please note that the ESP32 includes a CAN peripheral. The CAN Protocol is protected by the intellectual property rights of Robert Bosch GmbH. Therefore a license is required for any implementation of the CAN Protocol (see CAN Protocol License Conditions). Since the selling price of the ESP32 includes no such royalty fee, Espressif hereby disclaims any liability or obligation regarding the CAN Protocol license. Users of the CAN Protocol via the ESP32's CAN peripheral should contact Robert Bosch GmbH directly for the necessary license.

Has anyone implemented CAN interface on a commercial design and if so, how have you dealt with the licensing issue?

WiFive
Posts: 3529
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2015 7:35 am

Re: CAN License

Postby WiFive » Thu Sep 13, 2018 1:11 am

By the way, the original patents of the Classical CAN protocol ran out in May 2016. This means that everyone can now implement the Classical CAN protocol royalty free, but implementation patents might still exist. The CAN FD protocol is still patent-protected.
It would be nice if there were esp32 part numbers that included a can royalty because the first 10k units are 0.25€ but additional are 0.05€.

snahmad75
Posts: 445
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2018 6:32 pm

Re: CAN License

Postby snahmad75 » Thu May 30, 2019 10:54 am

Hi,

Can you confirm Is CAN driver is free to use in commercial products. If we need to buy license.
How and where we can buy license. Our number of devices will be about 2500

Thanks,
Naeem

snahmad75
Posts: 445
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2018 6:32 pm

Re: CAN License

Postby snahmad75 » Fri May 31, 2019 1:55 pm

Can some one answer from Espressif. we need to ship our product.

Hi,

Can you confirm Is CAN driver is free to use in commercial products. But If we need to buy license.
How and where we can buy license. Our number of devices will be about 2500

Thanks,
Naeem

Ritesh
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Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2016 9:37 am
Location: India
Contact:

Re: CAN License

Postby Ritesh » Sat Jun 01, 2019 9:35 am

snahmad75 wrote:
Fri May 31, 2019 1:55 pm
Can some one answer from Espressif. we need to ship our product.

Hi,

Can you confirm Is CAN driver is free to use in commercial products. But If we need to buy license.
How and where we can buy license. Our number of devices will be about 2500

Thanks,
Naeem
Hi Naeem,

I suggest to contact Espressif Sales Team directly for this type of commercial discussion as they can provide proper information from their respective team.

So, Better to ask directly to Espressif Sales Team to get quick and perfect response.
Regards,
Ritesh Prajapati

Ritesh
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Re: CAN License

Postby Ritesh » Sat Jun 01, 2019 9:43 am

electrobabble wrote:
Wed Sep 12, 2018 8:45 pm
Latest release of IDF contains this License notice:
Warning

Please note that the ESP32 includes a CAN peripheral. The CAN Protocol is protected by the intellectual property rights of Robert Bosch GmbH. Therefore a license is required for any implementation of the CAN Protocol (see CAN Protocol License Conditions). Since the selling price of the ESP32 includes no such royalty fee, Espressif hereby disclaims any liability or obligation regarding the CAN Protocol license. Users of the CAN Protocol via the ESP32's CAN peripheral should contact Robert Bosch GmbH directly for the necessary license.

Has anyone implemented CAN interface on a commercial design and if so, how have you dealt with the licensing issue?
Hi,

Would you please send me where this type of License for CAN driver mentioned?
Regards,
Ritesh Prajapati

snahmad75
Posts: 445
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2018 6:32 pm

Re: CAN License

Postby snahmad75 » Wed Jun 05, 2019 12:44 pm

I got reply from Espressif Systems sales team.

No license need for CAN driver. It is free.

Ritesh
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Location: India
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Re: CAN License

Postby Ritesh » Thu Jun 06, 2019 3:23 am

snahmad75 wrote:
Wed Jun 05, 2019 12:44 pm
I got reply from Espressif Systems sales team.

No license need for CAN driver. It is free.
Great.

Thanks for update regarding same.
Regards,
Ritesh Prajapati

permal
Posts: 384
Joined: Sun May 14, 2017 5:36 pm

Re: CAN License

Postby permal » Thu Jun 06, 2019 7:18 am

I am not a lawyer, but http://www.bosch-semiconductors.com/ip- ... -protocol/ states the following:
The CAN FD Protocol is developed by Robert Bosch GmbH and is patented. In addition to the CAN IP modules offered by Bosch, a CAN FD Protocol License is required. The CAN FD Protocol License is also required for self-developed CAN modules or for CAN modules purchased from other vendors.
Reading the document linked on the page also indicates that a license is required.

What was the exact question asked to Espressif sales team?
Last edited by permal on Thu Jun 06, 2019 8:31 am, edited 1 time in total.

Ritesh
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Location: India
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Re: CAN License

Postby Ritesh » Thu Jun 06, 2019 8:25 am

Hi snahmad75 ,

Would you please let us know which question you have asked to Espressif Sales team? Better to post conversation here as well for more clarity.
Regards,
Ritesh Prajapati

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