NVIDIA CUDA & OpenCL SDK kernels copyright Why so different

Hello,

I’d like to use some SDK samples kernels for my app. The kernels need to be adjusted to work with floating point inputs, but I am concerned if I can use code based on the NVIDIA samples at all.

Eg, for the matrix transpose sample I read

/*

  • Copyright 1993-2009 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved.
  • NVIDIA Corporation and its licensors retain all intellectual property and
  • proprietary rights in and to this software and related documentation and
  • any modifications thereto. Any use, reproduction, disclosure, or distribution
  • of this software and related documentation without an express license
  • agreement from NVIDIA Corporation is strictly prohibited.

*/

Interestingly the same matrix transpose sample from the OpenCL SDK has a much more relaxed copyright note

/*

  • Copyright 1993-2007 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved.
  • NOTICE TO USER:
  • This source code is subject to NVIDIA ownership rights under U.S. and
  • international Copyright laws. Users and possessors of this source code
  • are hereby granted a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to use this code
  • in individual and commercial software.
  • NVIDIA MAKES NO REPRESENTATION ABOUT THE SUITABILITY OF THIS SOURCE
  • CODE FOR ANY PURPOSE. IT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT EXPRESS OR
  • IMPLIED WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. NVIDIA DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH
  • REGARD TO THIS SOURCE CODE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
  • MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
  • IN NO EVENT SHALL NVIDIA BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
  • OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS
  • OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE
  • OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE
  • OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOURCE CODE.
  • U.S. Government End Users. This source code is a “commercial item” as
  • that term is defined at 48 C.F.R. 2.101 (OCT 1995), consisting of
  • “commercial computer software” and "commercial computer software
  • documentation" as such terms are used in 48 C.F.R. 12.212 (SEPT 1995)
  • and is provided to the U.S. Government only as a commercial end item.
  • Consistent with 48 C.F.R.12.212 and 48 C.F.R. 227.7202-1 through
  • 227.7202-4 (JUNE 1995), all U.S. Government End Users acquire the
  • source code with only those rights set forth herein.
  • Any use of this source code in individual and commercial software must
  • include, in the user documentation and internal comments to the code,
  • the above Disclaimer and U.S. Government End Users Notice.
    */

So, is NVIDIA heading to the more relaxed copyright of OpenCL for CUDA stuff soon, or do I have to ask for a written permission to use & modify the CUDA sample code.

These copyright’s do not exactly help to widespread the use of efficient code on NVIDIA GPUs.

Regards
Mark

The copyright statement in the CUDA SDK is adjusted in the next release. As far as code licensing goes, check the license file that comes with the SDK.

Paulius