Let's say I plan on building a consumer electronic system (some electronic product). This system would have a PCB and a plethora of various components: LEDs, transistors, resistors, light sensors, microphones, a power supply, etc. I would obtain these from a distributor or perhaps even directly from a manufacturer.
In addition to purchasing them from a supplier, do I also owe royalties or other licensing-based fees for each of these components? What criteria/factors drive this answer?
Purchase of components implies either explicitly (through language in the datasheets) or implicitly a license. Put another way, if someone sells you a component that allows you to do something, and then they sue you, they can easily be counter sued for entrapment. The real concern is if you are using a component that infringes on someone's else's patents or IP's. Then you need to discuss indemnification with them. It would be silly for a manufacturer to go after you for using their own components.
