Introduction
Selecting the right IP core is critical for modern SoC and FPGA designs. But performance and standards compliance are only part of the equation. System considerations, scalability, and software integration are equally essential — and the licensing model behind the IP must support all three. We are taking this into account in Comcores.
At Comcores, we deliver high-performance Ethernet IP cores, TSN (Time Sensitive Networking)enabled solutions, MACsec security IP, and Hardware Security Modules (HSM) for FPGA and ASIC implementations. Just as importantly, our flexible IP licensing model is designed to align with real-world silicon development from early FPGA prototyping to high-volume ASIC deployment — across both hardware and software components delivered as complete IP subsystems.
How IP licensing works at Comcores
When customers license TSN Ethernet, MACsec, or HSM IP from Comcores, the underlying intellectual property remains the exclusive property of Comcores. What customers receive is a clearly defined set of rights to integrate and use the IP within their specific semiconductor designs — whether targeting ASICs or FPGAs.
This licensing framework is governed by a formal legal agreement. The agreement defines how the IP may be used, the scope of integration, and the products in which it may be deployed. While Comcores retains ownership of the IP itself, the customer fully owns their final manufactured silicon product, including their unique SoC architecture, system integration, and end application.
This model ensures strong IP protection for the developer while giving customers the rights and flexibility they need to design, manufacture, and commercialize their products with confidence.
One of the key aspects of a Comcores IP license is defining how the IP can be used within a customer’s products. Most commonly, the license grants the right to integrate a single instance of the IP into a customer’s SoC or FPGA design, with that chip then going into a specific product line.
Some IP providers offer only a single-product licensing model, with little flexibility for multi-product use or scaling across designs. At Comcores, while we provide straightforward single-product pricing, our licensing approach is designed to be more flexible, accommodating different deployment scenarios, multiple products, and derivative designs — reflecting the real-world needs of modern semiconductor development.
IP pricing models at Comcores: What are the options?
One of the most common questions in semiconductor IP evaluation is: “How does IP pricing actually work?” The answer depends heavily on the IP vendor and the use case. At Comcores, we generally do not charge royalties, which means that the number of units a customer ships does not affect the price of the IP. Whether a customer produces a single prototype or millions of devices, the licensing cost remains predictable. We structure our IP licenses to provide flexibility and align with the customer’s product strategy and development stage.
There are several ways we work with customers:
Single-product license – The customer pays for one instance of the IP, such as an Ethernet MAC, TSN, MACsec, or HSM, to be integrated into a single product. This is simple and straightforward for designs where the IP will be used in a limited number of products.
Family license – For customers developing multiple products or variants within a product line, we can offer a family license. The customer pays for the first product and a pre-determined, fixed price for each additional product in the line. This works well for long-lived product families where the total number of variants is uncertain.
Research and evaluation licenses – For universities, research labs, or projects not intended for production, we provide lower-cost or evaluation licenses to allow experimentation and development without full production commitments.
Specialized Licensing Arrangements – We also support more specialized licensing arrangements, such as:
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- Licensing by PCB rather than per chip
- Transitioning from FPGA prototypes to ASICs
- Subsystem-based licensing for multi-IP designs
This flexible, royalty-free approach ensures that customers can focus on integrating Comcores Ethernet TSN IPs, MACsec IP, and HSM IP into their designs without worrying about per unit royalties or unpredictable costs, while maintaining full ownership of their final products.
Frequently Asked Questions about IP licensing from Comcores
What is an IP core license? An IP core license grants a semiconductor design team the legal right to integrate a third-party IP block — such as an Ethernet MAC or MACsec engine — into their chip or FPGA design. The IP vendor retains ownership of the underlying IP, while the customer owns their final silicon product.
What is the difference between a single-product license and a family license? A single-product license covers IP integration into one specific product design. A family license covers a defined group of related products or design variants, typically at a fixed incremental price per additional product — making it more cost-effective for multi-SKU programs.
Do all IP vendors charge royalties? No. Some IP vendors charge a one-time license fee only, with no per-unit royalties. Comcores follows this royalty-free model, ensuring that IP costs do not scale with production volume.
Can I license IP for FPGA prototyping and then migrate to ASIC? Yes. Comcores supports FPGA-to-ASIC transition licensing, allowing design teams to begin prototyping on FPGA and transition to ASIC tape-out under a unified licensing framework — avoiding duplicate licensing costs.
Is IP licensing available for research and academic use? Yes. Comcores offers research and evaluation licenses at reduced cost for universities, research labs, and non-production programs.
The right IP licensing model for your requirements
IP licensing should never be a barrier to good silicon design. At Comcores, our goal is to align IP licensing terms with the actual needs of your program, whether you are taping out a single high-reliability ASIC, scaling a platform SoC across multiple product variants, or evaluating TSN and MACsec capabilities in an FPGA prototype.
If you are evaluating Ethernet TSN IP cores, MACsec IP, or HSM solutions for your next project, contact the Comcores team at sales@comcores.com to discuss which licensing model that best fits your development roadmap and volume targets.