Entities refusing to distribute copyleft licensed software under license terms

2025-09-03T00:34:26Z

LogicalErzor: Expanded the role of this page. This should be a page showcasing entities refusing to distribute copyleft licensed software

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TODO: Please rename the title of this article to something like "Entities refusing to distribute copyleft licensed software". I do not have that permission (or I can't find how I can do it myself). Once done, please remove this TODO paragraph.

Entities are required to distribute copyleft source code to customers that have bought their products and request for it. However, this practice is rarely enforced and some companies actively refuse to distribute source code in flagrant violation of the law.

== Licenses ==

=== Permissive Licenses ===
Permissive licensed software do not require distribution of source code. This means that if a company is using a permissive license, you can not request for their source code. Examples include:

* MIT
* BSD
* TODO (Add more)

=== Copyleft Licenses ===
Copyleft licenses give you the freedom to ask an entity for the source code. It does not matter if it is from the original vendor or from a distributor. Examples of such licenses include:

* GPL 2/3
* MPL
* TODO (Add more)

== Enforcers ==
The [https://sfconservancy.org/ Software Freedom Conservancy] is a non profit organization in order to combat this issue. However, in practice, they usually have long lead times and encourage the user to file a suit instead.

== Bad Examples ==

=== Linux Kernel ===
Refusing kernel source code is bad since customers don't get custom ROMs like LineageOS or Linux distributions like postmarketOS.

==== Alarm.com ====
Alarm.com is a SAAS company. They collaborate with multiple hardware vendors to get their security software running on their devices, which primarily run Android. In relation to Qolsys's experience, they actively refused to provide the Linux kernel source code. They also do not have a webpage showcasing where to download source code.

==== Cricket ====
Cricket is a mobile network carrier that also sells Android phones. As they are a distributor of Android phones, which run Linux, they are required by law to distribute the source code to customers who ask for it. However, in practice, customers are actively turned away by customer support. They also do not have a webpage showcasing where to download source code.

==== Qolsys ====
Most of Qolsys's products run Android, however when asking customer support for the source code for the IQP4, they actively refused to provide it. When pressed they will ignore you. They also do not have a webpage showcasing where to download source code.

==== Xiaomi ====
[[Xiaomi]]'s devices are running Android, which is built on top of the [https://kernel.org Linux kernel]. The Linux kernel is licensed under the [https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.en.html GPLv2],<ref>[https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/COPYING "Linux Copying Terms"] - github.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> which requires the source code of derivative works to be made available.<ref>[https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.en.html "GNU GPL Clause 3a"] - gnu.org - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> Xiaomi does release the kernel sources for many of their devices in their [https://github.com/MiCode/Xiaomi_Kernel_OpenSource GitHub repository], but not for all.

The kernel sources for some Xiaomi devices are unavailable, they include:

*Redmi Note 13 4G/NFC
*Redmi 13C 4G
*Poco M5
*TODO: add more items

This, along with [[Xiaomi Phone unlock requirements and procedure]] prevents custom ROMs from being made for these devices.

== Good Examples ==

=== Google ===
https://source.android.com/opensourcerequest

=== Samsung ===
https://opensource.samsung.com/uploadList?menuItem=mobile

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Xiaomi]]

Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Entities refusing to distribute copyleft licensed software under license terms