Arduinoβs new terms of service worries hobbyists ahead of Qualcomm acquisition
24 November 2025 at 15:45
Some members of the maker community are distraught about Arduinoβs new terms of service (ToS), saying that the added rules put the companyβs open source DNA at risk.
Arduino updated its ToS and privacy policy this month, which is about a month after Qualcomm announced that itβs acquiring the open source hardware and software company. Among the most controversial changes is this addition:
User shall not:
- translate, decompile or reverse-engineer the Platform, or engage in any other activity designed to identify the algorithms and logic of the Platformβs operation, unless expressly allowed by Arduino or by applicable license agreements β¦
In response to concerns from some members of the maker community, including from open source hardware distributor and manufacturer Adafruit, Arduino posted a blog on Friday. Regarding the new reverse-engineering rule, Arduinoβs blog said:


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