Arduino schematics for commercial use

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello,

I am interested in using some of the Arduino Atmega2560 schematics to build my own PCB which will later be used in commercial use for profit. I am basically using the exact same design, but I will be adding external RAM to my board.

Could someone let me know if I would need to get FCC or any other licensing approval? The product will only be available in Canada though. Since it is built for a client that only intends to use the product in Canada.

I notice the Arduino Atmega2560 already has FCC and CE stamps on them if I am not changing the design does that mean I don't need to get FCC or CE certificate.

Also what copyright notice would I have to use, do I just attach the notice to my design or is there a filing process?

Regards

2

You have to get your own design tested and approved.
You cannot use the existing design compliance cert.

In uk and us testing is v expensive , unsure about canada.

3

Hello,

Thanks for the reply. I have spoken to multiple person that work in industry many of them said I don't have to bother to approval in Canada with my deisign. I will look into this more

Also I notice much of the Arduino board design is what is in the Atmel datasheet. If I just use the Atmel datasheet to make the board why could I have to use there copyright notice.

There design takes exactly what the Atmel says and dumps it on the board with very little changes.

4

Will any Arduino source code be used in your software? Will you be using Libc in your software?

5

wany:
I have spoken to multiple person that work in industry many of them said I don't have to bother to approval in Canada with my deisign.

"Not have to bother with approval in Canada" is a legal question. Are any of the "multiple person" lawyers?

6

Even if you use the exact schematic your board design will be different and therefore radiate differently, so I would assume that certifications like FCC have to be done for your exact product, assuming of course they have to be done at all with a given country and product type.

Rob

7

wany:
I will be adding external RAM to my board.

I notice the Arduino Atmega2560 already has FCC and CE stamps on them if I am not changing the design does that mean I don't need to get FCC or CE certificate.

you ARE changing the design. as soon as you swap one carbon resistor for a metal one, you changed the design.

8

wany:
Hello,

Could someone let me know if I would need to get FCC or any other licensing approval? The product will only be available in Canada though. Since it is built for a client that only intends to use the product in Canada.

Regards

Depends what the client does, there are exemptions in the uk.
Public sale requires approval.

9

In the U.S. you need FCC Part 15B certification. To obtain a certification certificate, you must send your finished product to a testing lab. Cheapest Part 15B testing I've ever had done cost about $4000.

In Canada you need "Industry Canada" certification.

Computer devises are required to be tested as "unintentional radiators". Meaning any creation of an RF signal, which
is what the CPU local oscillator does, must be tested and certified the RF level is below a certain level to prevent
interference to other devises.

Selling or marketing an unapproved, non certified product, can result in FCC fines of up to $15,000 per devise.

Hope this helps explains the requirements.

10

Selling or marketing an unapproved, non certified product, can result in FCC fines of up to $15,000 per devise.

For people like us who may just sell a few (or even a few 100) boards don't you get around this by calling it a "prototyping device" or some such.

Rob

11

All the information your looking for is here:

look at page 7 for devices not requiring certification.

look at page 9 for fines from not certifying.

Based on this there are no exemptions for small quantities or "prototype" products unless it falls within one of the exempted
products.

Only loophole i see is if you can keep your product under the "sub-assembly" category. There seems to be some wiggle room
and a bit of grey area.