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[Launchpad Bug Tracker <1326776@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

** Branch linked: lp:ubuntu/utopic-proposed/linux-firmware-nonfree

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1326776

Title:
  linux-firmware-nonfree: Copyright infringement of Broadcom b43
  firmware

Status in “linux-firmware-nonfree” package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Committed
Status in “linux-firmware-nonfree” source package in Lucid:
  Invalid
Status in “linux-firmware-nonfree” source package in Precise:
  Fix Committed
Status in “linux-firmware-nonfree” source package in Trusty:
  Fix Committed
Status in “linux-firmware-nonfree” source package in Utopic:
  Fix Committed

Bug description:
  It is historically well known that Broadcom does not allow
  redistribution of the b43 firmware. This is confirmed by:

      -  http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Firmware ("Broadcom refuses to
  re-license them under redistributable license. ")

      -  http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43 ("the firmware
  from the binary drivers is copyrighted by Broadcom Corporation and
  cannot be redistributed. ")

      -  Colin Watson in bug #29566 ("We've already talked to Broadcom;
  no luck. The wl driver and various reverse-engineering efforts are the
  only way we're going to get redistributable firmware here.")

  But it appears from this changelog -
  https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/oneiric/+source/linux-firmware-
  nonfree/+changelog - that Tim Gardner added the b43 firmware files to
  linux-firmware-nonfree back in September 2011, and the files are still
  there in trusty.

  So does Canonical actually have a license to redistribute the b43
  firmware? The current situation really appears as if Broadcom said
  "no", and then Canonical went ahead and packaged it anyway. If this is
  incorrect, and Canonical is allowed to redistribute, then the license
  needs to be made clear in order to avoid accusations of copyright
  infringement.

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
  Package: linux-firmware-nonfree 1.14ubuntu1
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-27.50-generic 3.13.11
  Uname: Linux 3.13.0-27-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.2
  Architecture: amd64
  CurrentDesktop: Unity
  Date: Thu Jun  5 13:35:32 2014
  Dependencies:
   
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-06 (30 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
  PackageArchitecture: all
  SourcePackage: linux-firmware-nonfree
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

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