RE: possible GPL violation by Sigma Designs EM8500 customers

From: Iain Barker (iainbarker_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 11/29/03

  • Next message: Prakash K. Cheemplavam: "Re: Silicon Image 3112A SATA trouble" 
    To: benh@kernel.crashing.org
Date:	Sat, 29 Nov 2003 10:02:54 -0500

    >From: Benjamin Herrenschmidt <benh@kernel.crashing.org>
    >
    >Just to make things clear, you should change the title of your emails
    >here to "possible GPL violation by Liteon". AFAIK, Sigma isn't involved
    >in the violation, they almost certainly provided a source code kernel
    >for their chipset to Liteon.
    >
    >Ben.

    Thanks Ben,

    I've modified the title of this thread to indicate it is the chipset
    customers who are directly at fault. However it seems that every
    manufacturer using the Sigma SDK is making the same error.

    The violation seems to be common amongst a large number (all?) Sigma Designs
    customers using their EM8500 chipset SDK. Liteon was the manufacturer for
    the product I have, but in the original thread on LKML it refers also to
    others.

    Manufacturers offering binary distributions based on Linux as 'firmware' via
    their support websites are the easiers to check up on. Those with no source
    code included for EM8500 SDK derived products include:

    Liteon http://www.liteonit.com
    LVD-1001/2001/2002 DVD player

    Vinc http://www.vinc.com
    Bravo-D1 DVD Player

    Kiss http://www.kiss-technology.com
    DP-450, DP-500 DVD player

    Neodigits http://www.neodigits.com
    NeuNeo DVD player

    Dream-X http://www.dreamsat-electronics.com
    108 DVD player

    Elta http://www.elta.de
    8882 DVD player

    RiMax http://www.rimax.net
    MPEG4 DVD player

    The above is not a comprehensive list, just the ones currently distributing
    binary-only GPL products on their support websites with no mention of Linux
    or the GPL.

    Other manufacturers with products using the EM8500 SDK may well do the same
    within their product, including:

    Woxter
    Momitsu
    Brainwave
    Cosmic Digital
    Jamo
    Link Concept
    Mustek
    Neuston
    Shenzhen Skywood
    Xoro

    As you can see, the violation is widespread. I don't have the time to follow
    up on all of these, and in any case I am really only interested in being
    able to recompile kernel for the Liteon product which I own.

    But it does seem like a bigger problem as the Linux GPL license is being
    broadly ignored by embedded manufacturers.

    regards,
      Iain

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