Hi,
I think I need some clarification.

I would like to use the LCD VGA core to provide display output for debug purposes. This would be done in such a way that it would end up in a product (though remain unused by the customer).
VGALCD is GPL (rather than LGPL) which means that any derived works become part of it and should be fed back, precluding it's use in any form of product or non GPL work.

I am unsure what the effects of GPL would have on the decision to use it. As far as I can tell, none of the source code contains any license details, nor does the documentation. The only mention of license is on the project page. Because of that is it truly GPL?

Most open source hardware IP is LGPL. Is there a reason for choosing GPL as this precludes static linking with non-GPL? The way round this in software is to use a dynamic library. Dynamically linked hardware would be... interesting....

Any advice appreciated.

Consensus is that a GPL licensed IP will affect your other cores too in the same ASIC/FPGA, while LPGL only requires you to make the LPGL licensed code available. This is the reason why we recommend LGPL for new designs. In this case, my advice would be to contact Richard Herveille and the other maintainer to ask if they would be willing to relicense it. Either as LGPL which would put you in the clear, or as a proprietary IP that you can buy.

--
Olof Kindgren
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ORSoC
Website: www.orsoc.se
Email: olof.kindgren@orsoc.se
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FPGA, ASIC, DSP - embedded SoC design

If you look around, there are alternatives in the BSD style of licensing which may be better suited to your situation.

The reason to choose GPL over LGPL or whatever else is philisophical, and that is the creator's choice. There doesn't need to be any other reason, good or not.

The project description of the VGA/LCD project says GPL,
but if you take a look in the verilog source headers you will
see that it is actually released under a bsd-style license.