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Getting GPLv2 Compliance From A Chinese Company- In Person!

Naomi Wu · commentary · Watch on YouTube

Software practice, open source & careersConsumer devices & gadgetsLinux & open-source ecosystems

What it is

Naomi Wu visits the Shenzhen offices of smartphone maker UMIDIGI in person to get them to release source code they owed under the GPLv2, and they comply.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Held up as a rare success story of GPL enforcement against a Chinese hardware company, and admired for the effort.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 3 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2021, last 2024

What HN commenters said

  1. “I wish more people had the nerve to do that instead of letting it slide.”

    YouTuber traveled in person to enforce GPL

    Hackbraten, 2023-06 · Strong recommendation · in “They just pirated my open source 8088 BIOS”

  2. “I'm thrilled that her visit worked and that the files were posted!”

    Follow-up where visit achieved GPL compliance

    BostonEnginerd, 2021-12 · Recommendation · in “Boox Mira Pro – 25.3" E Ink Monitor”

  3. “it's certainly been possible to convince at least one Chinese company to fulfil its obligations under the GPL”

    Shows a Chinese company convinced to comply with GPL

    follower, 2023-03 · Recommendation · in “Xiaomi has been in violation of GPL for years”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: gplv2, naomi wu, umidigi, open source licensing, shenzhen

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