[joezydeco]

The API would expose what IP cores are inside the GPU.

A competitor could easily dissect the code and figure out what blocks and/or techniques are violating their patent rights.

[ZenoArrow]

> "The API would expose what IP cores are inside the GPU."

How would an open-source driver developed by a third party be less effective at doing so?

[joezydeco]

The third-party is probing into a black box. They have no idea what is or isn't there. So it could be plausible deniability on the side of the chipmaker.

[ZenoArrow]

How about documentation then? Let's say Allwinner releases C header files, plus high level descriptions of what each function does. Do they still maintain plausible deniability if the hardware design infringes on patents?