CAST Further Simplifies IP Core Licensing by Joining New Xilinx Common License Consortium

September 10, 2001, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey - Semiconductor intellectual property (IP) provider CAST, Inc., today announced another step in its continuing effort to make IP cores easier to use, becoming a charter member of the new Xilinx Common License Consortium.

Reaching legal agreement on licensing terms is sometimes the most time-consuming aspect of an electronic design firm's use of the predesigned blocks known as IP cores. This is especially problematic for programmable logic IP, which by its nature tends to be aimed at quick projects and short development times. The new Xilinx effort brings sensible standardization to the process, promising to simplify and speed the required customer approvals so as to get the desired IP cores in designers' hands dramatically sooner.

"As a pioneer delivering IP since 1993, we know firsthand how the technical benefits of our low-risk, easy-to-use cores can be eroded by difficult licensing negotiations," said Hal Barbour, president of CAST. "Engineers need solutions not hassles. We see teaming with Xilinx to accept the SignOnce IP License terms as a direct way to bring greater efficiency to a semiconductor industry that needs every benefit it can get."

"CAST is currently the biggest contributor of IP to the AllianceCORE program," said Mark Bowlby, manager of the AllianceCORE program at Xilinx. "They have been a supportive and successful FPGA IP partner and we are excited that they have joined us in this visionary effort."

CAST will initially use the SignOnce IP License for FPGA netlist cores for Xilinx devices, and may expand it to other core types later. Since the SignOnce IP License provides for custom license modifications, CAST expects to reap the benefits of standardization while still maintaining its reputation for customer-orientation and business flexibility.

About the Common License Consortium

Xilinx and members of its AllianceCORE third-party IP provider program have joined together to form the Common License Consortium. All consortium members have agreed to accept a single set of common IP licensing terms, called the SignOnce IP License, for acquiring FPGA-based IP cores. The result is a first for the IP industry - a single set of licensing terms, giving customers access to IP cores from multiple vendors for use in Xilinx programmable logic. For more information on this program, go to www.xilinx.com/ipcenter/signonce.htm.