[ffxx68]

This is what a Renesas representative has told me about this subject, when asked about Renesas' GPL policy:

<< Kernel source code obey GPL should release to who use the product, not to the public. That means when Renesas release BSP to device vendor, the kernel source code must be released, with the same reason , device vendor must release source code to their customer.
Renesas can choose publish the source code or not, but renesas choose don’t(I personally don’t like their choice). The reason is that Renesas don’t want to support the source code to public, but Renesas has send memorandum to customers about GPL issue. >>

[Andy_L]

I'm not a lawyer but that sounds non-compliant to me.

Section 3 of GPL v2 says that if they're distributing a GPL program that they've modified as an executable, they must either ship source code with it (which they're not doing), or offer to provide source code to any third party.

The GNU FAQ explains that this is specifically so that if an end user has received your program indirectly through a 3rd party, they can still get the code directly from you:
http://www.gnu.org/l...ittenOfferValid

This post has been edited by Andy_L: 03 February 2012 - 06:31 AM

[cAPSLOCK]

That they do not understand that cheating at least the spirit of the GPL if not the letter has held their product back from much greater success amazes me.

[ffxx68]

Well... Andy's complaint had some effect:

http://www.slatedroi...l-from-renesas/

This post has been edited by ffxx68: 06 February 2012 - 09:23 AM