Michigan Technological University Open Source Laboratory Sample Rotator and Mixer
Open-source 3-D printable laboratory sample rotator mixer
Licenses
Hardware
GPLThe rotator and mixer is made up of purely functional parts. The lack of expressive elements means that it is unlikely that they are protected by copyright in most jurisdictions. To the extent that there is some ambiguity surrounding their protection status, the GPL license will allow users to copy and modify the parts without fear of infringement. Nonetheless, because it is unlikely that the parts are actually protected by copyright, violators of the GPL conditions are unlikely to actually be violating any copyrights. That makes the use of the GPL in this project a good example of licensing that enables good actors.
Software
CC BYThe Arduino script used in the Rotator and Mixer is licensed under a CC-BY license. That allows anyone to copy or build upon the script as long as they give the original creators attribution.
The documentation for the Rotator and Mixer is an academic paper that is protected by copyright. The CC-BY license allows others to make copies of the documentation and modify it as long as they give credit to the original creator.
Branding
Information
The Open Source Laboratory Sample Rotator and Mixer’s name describes exactly what it does. This would make it extremely hard to protect its name as a trademark that identified Rotator and Mixers that only came from these creators, as opposed to Rotators and Mixers more generally.
Protectability Spectrum of Project Components
Sample Rotator Hardware
The hardware is purely functional and not protectable by copyright or trademark.
Sample Rotator Design
The product design is purely functional and not protectable as distinctive trade dress.
Sample Rotator Name
The name is purely descriptive and does not suggest a unique source.
Sample Rotator Documentation
The documentation is a purely functional schematic that allows for very few creative decisions.
