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I don't know why there aren't independent X86-64 manufacturers. Patents on the extensions maybe? But as I understand copyright, APIs can't be copyrighted so it's not that.


The original ARM 32 stuff is clearly out of patents and is not being copied. And it doesn't require new extensions to be commercially viable.


and is not being copied

Are you sure, especially considering China?

I doubt there is any legal barrier, because there are a few existing projects with x86 cores on an FPGA, as well as some SoCs. Here's a 486: https://opencores.org/projects/ao486


Ok if China is doing something only for China market that tells you something.

As for opencores, yes you can design them, but do any companies making commercial products sell them?


I'm reasonably certain at least one Chinese fab has a license for some of AMDs older product lines




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