DWG isn't already open source

Mar 14, 2011

DWG isn't already open source

J.W. is CAD administrator at a manufacturing company, and he has a question:

I have been working with support at Autodesk to resolve an issue regarding NX from Siemens PLM Systems, and during the course of resolving the issue, the support person made a statement. I wondered if its was true?

"Siemens does not pay us a penny, as the DWG format is open source."

Is it true that Siemens licensed DWG from Autodesk, and if DWG is open format?

DWG format is not open source, as much as the OpenDesign Alliance wishes it were so. This part of the support person's statement is incorrect.

I am not sure if Siemens PLM licenses its DWG xlators from the ODA or from Autodesk. If from the ODA, then Siemens indeed does not pay Autodesk a penny. On the other hand, if Autodesk and Siemens have a cross-licensing agreement, then it could be that no cash has exchanged hands, as well.

Posted at 01:32 AM in Computer-aided Design: NEWS | Permalink

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WorldCAD Access

talking about computers and design by Ralph Grabowski

Mar 14, 2011