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Message #10904
[Bug 1326776] Re: linux-firmware-nonfree: Copyright infringement of Broadcom b43 firmware
** Changed in: linux-firmware-nonfree (Ubuntu)
Assignee: Tim Gardner (timg-tpi) => Evgeny (pipik)
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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 Released
Status in linux-firmware-nonfree source package in Lucid:
Invalid
Status in linux-firmware-nonfree source package in Precise:
Fix Released
Status in linux-firmware-nonfree source package in Trusty:
Fix Released
Status in linux-firmware-nonfree source package in Utopic:
Fix Released
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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References