Charles:

I don't think there is much to worry about. The first patents for I2C
were issued late 1970's and thus expired. I was using the protocol in
1980 while at Signetics (Philips).

- Wayne Foletta
BMI - Saratoga, CA

> ----------
> From:         Charles Laforge[SMTP:cjoachim@HOTMAIL.COM]
> Reply To:     pic microcontroller discussion list
> Sent:         Sunday, January 11, 1998 7:41 PM
> To:   PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject:      Re: MORE... I2C protocol
>
> About those royalties....
>
> What exactly does Philips own.  I meen they came up with the protocol
> I
> know but can someone make a device which uses a different protocol
> which
> could be I2C compatible?  It could go something like this... although
> not I2C, this stuff is compatible with I2C devices.  Ensure pull ups
> are
> used... blah    blah....  Remember, these software routines are
> mine...
> blah blah... but they will talk to I2C devices.
>
> Just a thought.  Philips would sue me for all I have... I know!  Too
> bad
> the 8584 takes up so many I/O lines.
>
> Charles
>
>