Waw.
XILINX, you know, the big FPGA chip company,
they send lawyers after an engineer
because he created a video where he teaches people about how to program FPGA.
Waw.
I can not be too specific - I can not publish the email from lawyers, this is the company what sent me the email
I can not publish the email, because you know there is this saying in the email
This content is only for intended addressee,
but basically, XILINX
didn't like,
that in the video what was created by this guy
XILINX didn't like, that XILINX's and Altera's logo were placed together
you know Altera
the biggest competitor of Xilinx, now it's, now it's basically Intel, because Intel bought Altera
so, because of these two logos Xilinx said, that the author of the video
didn't have permission to use Xilinx logo, that this caused substantial
harm to Xilinx and the video can not be published anymore.
After I read the email, my brain just stopped.
Do you know what this means?
This means, that if you use word XILINX or if you use Xilinx logo
and Xilinx doesn't like it, they will send lawyers after you.
Now, imagine, that you built a product
for example a board
where you use a XILINX chip, you create a lot of documentation
and videos because you would like to teach people how to use your board
and one day, you receive an email, that you have to remove all your documents and videos, because
Xilinx doesn't like it.
This is just not right.
Yes, you used their name, you use their logo, but unless you intentionally do bad to their
name, they do not need to send lawyers after you.
And
this topic directly touches me, because you know, I do a lot of educational content
and
we had to take down an FPGA course because of this issue.
Now, do not take me wrong, ok, I am not creating this video, because we now can not sell the course.
I am creating this video, because what XILINX is doing is not right.
There are many people who can not afford the expensive trainigs and these online courses
and free videos help regular people to learn.
like the courses on udemy
If xilinx and other companies are going to threaten creators, how we are going to learn
new things?
Imagine if companies are going to send lawyers after courses at UDEMY or after people creating youtube videos?
If this continues, maybe the only way to learn in future can be through expensive
courses fully controlled by this big companies.
I quickly searched for Xilinx tutorial and I found this webpage - authorized training providers
and I just clicked on the first one and have a look
this course it costs 2400 dollars
WOW.
So, is this the end of the time when we normal people can learn Xilinx?
Xilinx is really treathing creators - it is real, I am not going to create any educational
videos about XILINX - I am not going to risk, they are going to sue me.
So in future, maybe the only option
to learn Xilinx will be going
to this kind of website and buy course for 2400 dollars
or
go for Altera.
Let's see what will happen to this video - you know, I have already mentioned Xilinx like 20 times
so let's se if I will need to take this video down or beep out the Xilinx word. I don't know.
Now, the question is, why XILINX is threatening creators?
There is no real reason.
Online videos they are teaching about FPGA programming,
they are not threat to XILINX company. So why they are doing it?
I did send email to Xilinx
and I ask for explantion, but you know these big companies, they don't care.
They even did not bother to answer.
And I was not so lucky as for example Dave Jones from EEVBlog, you know Dave?
he created this video about Weller
and he was lucky because weller responded to his video, but you know, just watch the video,
I really recommend it I like it.
So, the question is what can I do or what we can do in this situation?
By myself, I can not really do much - I can create this video, so everybody knows that
if XILINX doesn't like you, they can send lawyers after you. And I can tell you, that
I am also 100% sure, that I am not going to use XILINX chips in my designs anymore - because
I do not want to risk, that there will be another day when XILINX sends lawyers to treating me.
But who knows, maybe XILINX will react to this video, explain the situation and I will
change my mind.
But at this moment, if I will need FPGA chip on my board, it definitelly will be Altera
or Intel.
I am not going to use Xilinx.
It is not right, when engineers need to be worried, that when we use a chip
on our boards, that the chip manufacturer, may send lawyers after us, just because we
mentioned thier name in documentation or in video.
Companies like Xilinx,
they need us,
they need engineers.
Without people who are learning about how to program and use XILINX chips,
the Xilinx company would be nothing so why they send lawyers
after a video which teaches people how to use their chips?
I am curious what the real reason is.
If you are an engineer, please share this video - that is probably the only way, how
maybe Xilinx can start listening and realizing what they are doing.
And, XILINX, please do not threat regular people and engineers by lawyers,
do not bully creators, it is not right.
If the right person from Xilinx watches this video I would like to know your comments
I am very happy to create a follow up video.
But I am skeptical.This video is probably not going to change anything, but
at least I tried.
If you would like to help, please share this video.
ok?
More engineers, more people see this video, higher chance that XILINX will realize what they are doing.
And I really hope, this video and your help can explain and fix this situation.
Thank you very much.