Allwinner Caught Obfuscating Their Improperly Licensed Code

[GI_Jack]

You guys don't seem to get it... no one seems to care about copyrights/intellectual property in China

They obviously care enough to hide their code.

Also, you don't WANT them to stop selling their stuff, you pressure them and threaten them, but forcing them to stop selling is actually WORSE for us as linux users, because at least they do some effort and talk to the community, most western companies don't give a flying fuck about Linux.

Not really. If they cared about the community they'd respect the GPL. Also, don't make this into a west vs china thing. Its simply the community vs allwinner. Also, talk is cheap, and this is at very least a slap in the face to this community.

[blubbaer]

If you see no success in suing Allwinner directly then there are better chances in suing their customers. I mean the tablet/smartphone/board manufacturers who are using Allwinner Chips with the driver from Allwinner.
Because they are selling in the western countries, they have to respect import laws. So if it's possible to create a import ban because someone is using software patents without permission, it should also be possible if someone breaks software licenses with the driver.
This way you have to prove that the manufacturers are using Allwinner driver code. If one manufacturer gets sued, all other will think twice if they will again use technology from Allwinner.

I hope you understand what I want to say.

[TumultuousUnicorn]

where is RMS?

he is telling everyone that you need to make free software and it would be his duty to use this PR to help in this cases.

+1

I hope FSF does something against Allwinner.

[jinnai]

This is just sad...

where is RMS?

he is telling everyone that you need to make free software and it would be his duty to use this PR to help in this cases.

Really? Dont you think its a bit shame that 62 years old guy should be saving ass for the whole community? I would understand if you mentioned an organization like EFF but this is ridiculous IMO.

[jinnai]

where is RMS?

he is telling everyone that you need to make free software and it would be his duty to use this PR to help in this cases.

RMS? really? A 62 years old guy should be saving a(**) of the whole community? RMS wont be here forever... what will you post after he is gone ?

[asdfblah]

They obviously care enough to hide their code.



Not really. If they cared about the community they'd respect the GPL. Also, don't make this into a west vs china thing. Its simply the community vs allwinner. Also, talk is cheap, and this is at very least a slap in the face to this community.

You should read the first past of this post: http://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=4297
And yeah, they care... again, they care about WESTERN companies suing them for sharing copyrighted/patented code. Sure this is not the case, because the code is GPL'd, but, do you think the chinese care if it's GPL'd or not? They only care about not losing their business (in the west). So, again, threaten them and scare them into giving you the code, but do not drive them out of business.
Slap in the face is what multiple ARM vendors do (including ARM itself), that profit from Linux without giving ANYTHING back, not even drivers for their hardware. THAT is a slap in the face.

[dragorth]

You should read the first past of this post: http://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=4297
And yeah, they care... again, they care about WESTERN companies suing them for sharing copyrighted/patented code. Sure this is not the case, because the code is GPL'd, but, do you think the chinese care if it's GPL'd or not? They only care about not losing their business (in the west). So, again, threaten them and scare them into giving you the code, but do not drive them out of business.
Slap in the face is what multiple ARM vendors do (including ARM itself), that profit from Linux without giving ANYTHING back, not even drivers for their hardware. THAT is a slap in the face.

Except this part is very important. They are not stealing from a company or corporation. They are stealing from their customers, taking away their rights as provided by the GPL. And that is why they should be chastised. If that chastisement comes in the form of them losing business, then they will have to deal with the consequences of their actions.

But remember, it is their burden to follow the agreement they implicitly made by using the GPL'd code. It was not shoved down their throats, it was offered in the spirit of cooperation, and friendship to all who wished it under the simple provision of share what changes you make, so that everyone benefits.

This is both a moral transaction, as well as a business transaction. And Allwinner is showing that they cannot be trusted in those two types of transactions. Now, if they just follow the GPL, then all will be forgiven.

[steveriley]

no one seems to care about copyrights/intellectual property in China

Possibly of related interest... China Reveals Its Cyberwar Secrets

[madjr]

Except this part is very important. They are not stealing from a company or corporation. They are stealing from their customers, taking away their rights as provided by the GPL. And that is why they should be chastised. If that chastisement comes in the form of them losing business, then they will have to deal with the consequences of their actions.

But remember, it is their burden to follow the agreement they implicitly made by using the GPL'd code. It was not shoved down their throats, it was offered in the spirit of cooperation, and friendship to all who wished it under the simple provision of share what changes you make, so that everyone benefits.

This is both a moral transaction, as well as a business transaction. And Allwinner is showing that they cannot be trusted in those two types of transactions. Now, if they just follow the GPL, then all will be forgiven.

Agree and they have examples from the bigger boys intel, amd and even nvidia to some extend.

Intel and amd are gaining ground in the mobile space too.

Hopefully if AW, MTK, etc get pressured enough they will open up more or at least stop violating.

I think Google should also get behind and support the FSF on this too. I would say in part is also their fault, so they should take advantage of how well positioned android is now and ask more of these companies...

FOSS will just keep getting stronger, once you go none black-box you don't go back! B-)

[liam]

I'm not sure there's much to be done, since it is a Chinese company.
Same with rockchip.
Iirc, Qualcomm had concerns about their IP being used by those without a license in China. I don't recall anything coming from that.