Hardware Podcasts

289: Stamping HORSE on Zebras

Embedded.fm · 30 May 2019 · 1h 14m · Episode 289

What this episode covers

Alicia Gibb, executive director of the Open Source Hardware Association (OSHW) and director of the Blow Things Up Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder, discusses the legal and business frameworks of open source hardware. She explains how OSHW uses trademark certification to ensure quality and prevent misuse, contrasting this with the limitations of copyright and patent laws in the US. Gibb details her experience manufacturing Build Upons, light-up LEGO-compatible bricks, highlighting the extreme difficulty of sourcing manufacturers capable of meeting Lego's tight tolerances. She argues that open source hardware can coexist with profitable business models by leveraging brand trust, speed to market, and community-driven innovation rather than relying on IP monopolies.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Open Source Hardware Association, Bug Labs, Qualcomm, Spark Fun, Ada Fruit, University of Colorado Boulder
Products
Build Upons, LilyPad Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Lego
Also
Blow Things Up Lab, Open Hardware Summit, Atlas Institute

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