The Licensing Model
Quantum Leaps, LLC uses the increasingly popular business model called dual licensing, in which both the open source software distribution mechanism and traditional commercial software distribution models are combined.
Open Source Projects:
If you are developing and distributing open source applications under the GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2), as published by the Free Software Foundation, then you are free to use the Quantum Leaps software under the GPLv2 license. Please note that GPLv2 Section 2(b) requires that all modifications to the original code as well as all Derivative Works must also be released under the terms of the GPLv2 open source license.
More about open source ...
If you are developing and distributing traditional closed source applications, you might purchase one of Quantum Leaps commercial licenses, which are specifically designed for users interested in retaining the proprietary status of their code. All Quantum Leaps commercial licenses expressly supersede the GPLv2 open source license. This means that when you license Quantum Leaps software under a commercial license, you specifically do not use the software under the open source license and therefore you are not subject to any of its terms. Commercial licensing options are described below.
More about the legal foundation of dual licensing ...
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Commercial Licenses
Quantum Leaps commercial licenses are designed for users, who cannot open their application code and therefore cannot use Quantum Leaps software under the terms of the GPLv2 open source license.
Quantum Leaps offers the following commercial licensing options.
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Single Product License—valid for royalty-free distribution of a "Single Product", any number of units, for the life of the product.
"Single Product" means a product of the Licensee (your product) constituting a single application or device for fulfilling a particular need in a particular market category and that is identified by a unique name, version or mark (e.g., project code, trademark, or model designation).
This license is specific to the microprocessor used AND the specific name and model of the Single Product. Examples of Single Products are: any single model of a standard TV, HDTV, VCR, DVD player, network switch, network router, washing machine, thermostat, patient monitor, etc.
General Rule: If you consider it a separate Single Product... so do we!
If a complex product contains more than one processor (e.g., a car), a separate Single Product License is required for each different copy of the Quantum Leaps software distributed within the product. Generous volume discounts are offered if Several Single Product Licenses are acquired at once (see Quantum Leaps Price List).
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Product Line License—valid for royalty-free distribution of a "Product Line", any number of units, for the life of the Product Line.
"Product Line" means a family of closely related Single Products of the Licensee (your products) aimed at a particular market segment and closely related to a particular hardware technology (such as a chip-set), or an industry standard (such as IEEE standards for wireless communication, automotive standards, and others).
This license is specific to the microprocessor used AND the specific Product Line. In other words, all products in the Product Line must use the same processor architecture, although the different members of the Product Line might use different devices within the same CPU architecture. Examples of product lines are: standard TVs, HDTVs, VCRs, DVD players, network switches, network routers, washing machines, thermostats, patient monitors, etc.
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CPU License—valid for royalty-free distribution of any product based on the given "CPU Architecture" any number of units, for the life of the products.
"CPU Architecture" means single, specific, processor core (e.g. ARM7, ARM9, ARM Cortex-M3, 80x86, MSP430, AVR, Nios II, M16C, 68HC08, 8051, 80251, PIC18, PSoC (M8C), PowerPC, etc.).
Custom Distribution License—The precise terms of these licenses are flexible and can be negotiated to balance your budget and legal needs.
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Technical Support
Every commercial license includes one (1) year of technical support. Additionally to the unlimited e-mail support, the commercial support entitles the Licensee to upgrading any licensed QP component to any newer version that Quantum Leaps might release during the Support Term. The original one-year Support Term can be extended annually, as described in Section "Extended Support". After the expiration of the Support Term, the Licensee can no longer upgrade the software under this particular license, although the Licensee retains the right to use any version of the software released within the Support Term.
Business Model: Many first-generation open source vendors (e.g., Linux companies) build their business model on a free product and paid support, while Quantum Leaps charges for the product and offers free 1-year technical support for every commercially licensed product. As a consequence, we are highly motivated to keep our software free of bugs, easy to use, and to supply good documentation with many examples to minimize our support load and expenses. This is in contrast to many first-generation open-source vendors, where such a strategy would actually lower the company's revenue and profit from support contracts.
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Quantum Leaps Price List
 Download Quantum Leaps Licensing and Pricing brochure in PDF (0.1MB)
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Quantum Leaps, LLC reserves the right to change the prices at any time and without notice. Please submit a license request form to recieve a binding price quote from Quantum Leaps. |
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| Quantum Leaps License Fees (US Dollars) | ||||
| Quantum Leaps Software Component |
Single Product License (see volume discounts) |
Product Line License | CPU License | Custom License |
| QEP/C | $700 | $3,500 | $5,600 | ask for pricing |
| QF1/C | $700 | $3,500 | $5,600 | ask for pricing |
| QK2/C | $400 | $2,000 | $3,200 | ask for pricing |
| QS3/C | $500 | $2,500 | $4,000 | ask for pricing |
| QP5/C Bundle | $1,995 | $9,950 | $15,950 | ask for pricing |
| QEP/C++ | $1,250 | $6,250 | $10,000 | ask for pricing |
| QF1/C++ | $1,100 | $5,500 | $8,800 | ask for pricing |
| QK2/C++ | $500 | $2,500 | $4,000 | ask for pricing |
| QS3/C++ | $600 | $3,000 | $4,800 | ask for pricing |
| QP5/C++ Bundle | $2,995 | $14,950 | $23,950 | ask for pricing |
| QEP-nano | $600 | $3,000 | $4,800 | ask for pricing |
| QF-nano 1 | $350 | $1,750 | $2,800 | ask for pricing |
| QK-nano 1 | $250 | $1,250 | $2,000 | ask for pricing |
| QP-nano6 Bundle | $995 | $4,950 | $7,950 | ask for pricing |
| QEP/Java | $700 | $3,500 | N/A | ask for pricing |
| QEP/ActionScript | $700 | $3,500 | N/A | ask for pricing |
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1 requires QEP (or QEP-nano) 2 requires QF and QEP (or QF/QEP-nano) 3 includes target code and the QSpy host application 4 any QDK (e.g., QDK-ARM, QDK-MSP430, etc.) 5 bundle of QEP + QF + QK + QS; includes also one selected QDK 6 bundle of QEP-nano + QF-nano + QK-nano; includes also one selected QDK-nano |
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| Volume Discounts for Single Product Licenses | |||||
| Number of Single Products | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 or more |
| Volume Discount | 0% | 5% | 10% | 15% | 20% |
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Example: 3 Single Product Licenses for QP/C Bundle. License fee before the volume discount: 3*$1,995 = $5,985. Volume discount for 3 Single Product Licenses = 10% * $5,985 = $598. Total price after the volume discount = $5,985 - $598 = $5,387.
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| Extended Support | |||
| Support Type | First Year | Subsequent Year | |
| Unlimited e-mail Support7 and free software upgrade |
Included in the License Fee | $1,000 + 10% of the total License Fee |
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7 requires a valid commercial license |
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License Purchasing Procedure
The steps for obtaining a Quantum Leaps commercial license are as follows:
- A Customer fills out and submits the License Request Form (see below).
- For one of our standard licenses, Quantum Leaps will reply via e-mail with the attached Licensing Agreement to be filled out and signed by the Licensee.
- For a Custom License, Quantum Leaps negotiates a custom-tailored Licensing Agreement and pricing.
- The Customer sends filled out and signed Licensing Agreement to Quantum Leaps by fax, or via regular mail.
- After receiving the signed Licensing Agreement Quantum Leaps issues an invoice to the customer.
- Upon receiving payment confirmation or a copy of a purchase order, Quantum Leaps signs the customer's copy of the Licensing Agreement, assigns a unique License Number, and sends the customer's copy back to the customer by fax as well as to the customer's postal address.
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License Request Form
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Top of pageLast updated: September 02, 2008