Android kernel source - GPL violation

Other OS Support
1

Hello everyone,

I am writing this because of the Android kernel sources for the Rubik Pi 3 by Thundercomm are not available to the public. In this forum, it was mentioned that the sources are ONLY available for ““enterprise-level users””.

The GPL version 2 mandates that any derivative work based on GPL-licensed software must make the corresponding source code available to the public. This requirement ensures that users have the freedom to use, study, share, and modify the software, promoting transparency, security, and community collaboration.

To comply with the GPL, Thundercomm must release the complete and corresponding source code for the version of Android running on the Rubik Pi 3, including all modifications and any additional modules or extensions that interact with the kernel.

If Thundercomm fails to release the source code in a timely manner, it would constitute a violation of the GPL. In such a case, it will be necessary to report this GPL violation to the appropriate authorities and the open-source community to ensure that the terms of the GPL are enforced.

It’s crucial for Thundercomm to uphold the principles of open-source software and comply with the GPL by releasing the source code for their devices.

It would also be rather nice if Thundercomm decides to upload the device trees for AOSP.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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2

Hi everyone,

Thank you for sharing your concerns. We take open-source compliance and the GPLv2 license very seriously.

Regarding the Rubik Pi 3 (Qualcomm QCS6490 platform), we are currently re-validating the specific licensing boundaries for the Android software stack with our upstream chipset provider. Since our product involves a complex mix of proprietary vendor modules and open-source components, we are conducting this review to ensure that our distribution strategy remains fully compliant with both community licenses (GPL) and our commercial agreements.

While we finalize this verification process , you can refer to the upstream Qualcomm Android kernel repositories, which serve as the baseline for this platform:

We appreciate your patience as we complete these necessary legal and compliance checks.

If you have any questions, please contact us via email at service@thundercomm.com.

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