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

[Chris Bainbridge]

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)

[Chris J Arges (arges)]

Hello Chris, or anyone else affected,

Accepted linux-firmware-nonfree into trusty-proposed. The package will build now and be available at http://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-firmware-nonfree/1.14ubuntu3 in a few hours, and then in the -proposed repository.

Please help us by testing this new package. See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Testing/EnableProposed for documentation how to enable and use -proposed. Your feedback will aid us getting this update out to other Ubuntu users.

If this package fixes the bug for you, please add a comment to this bug, mentioning the version of the package you tested, and change the tag from verification-needed to verification-done. If it does not fix the bug for you, please add a comment stating that, and change the tag to verification-failed. In either case, details of your testing will help us make a better decision.

Further information regarding the verification process can be found at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/QATeam/PerformingSRUVerification . Thank you in advance!

[Chris J Arges (arges)]

Hello Chris, or anyone else affected,

Accepted linux-firmware-nonfree into precise-proposed. The package will build now and be available at http://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-firmware-nonfree/1.11ubuntu4 in a few hours, and then in the -proposed repository.

Please help us by testing this new package. See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Testing/EnableProposed for documentation how to enable and use -proposed. Your feedback will aid us getting this update out to other Ubuntu users.

If this package fixes the bug for you, please add a comment to this bug, mentioning the version of the package you tested, and change the tag from verification-needed to verification-done. If it does not fix the bug for you, please add a comment stating that, and change the tag to verification-failed. In either case, details of your testing will help us make a better decision.

Further information regarding the verification process can be found at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/QATeam/PerformingSRUVerification . Thank you in advance!

[wgroiss (wolfgang-groiss-gmx)]

I am not sure, if my problem belongs to this bug:
I updated a Dell Inspiron from 14.04 Trusty to 14.10 Utopic. It seemed everything ok, but no WIFI.
So i went to Tab "Additional Driver" in "Software & Updates", where my wlan-HW was found: Broadcom BCM4311 (Rev 01).
But, when i choose "Apply proprietory drinver" => after next reboot, there is no network-connection anymore:
LAN Broadcom BCM4401-B0 (Rev 02) and WLAN Broadcom BCM4311 (Rev 01) does not work.

Only after delete of
sudo rm /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-bcm43.conf
and restart
Network LAN ist working again.

[Chris Bainbridge (chris-bainbridge)]

@wgroiss Your problem is not related, since the Broadcom proprietory driver does not require or use external firmware. This firmware is only used by the openb43 driver.

[Chris Bainbridge (chris-bainbridge)]

I tested linux-firmware 1.14ubuntu3 and can confirm that the b43 firmware has been removed.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package linux-firmware-nonfree - 1.11ubuntu4

---------------
linux-firmware-nonfree (1.11ubuntu4) precise; urgency=medium

  * Forgot to remove B43 logic from debian/rules. Fixes FTBS.
    Revised changelog entry for 1.11ubuntu3

linux-firmware-nonfree (1.11ubuntu3) precise-proposed; urgency=medium

  * Drop B43.tgz for license concerns. This could cause regressions with existing
    users. However, there are clear instructions at
    http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43 for how to install this firmware.
    -LP: #1326776
 -- Tim Gardner <email address hidden> Wed, 13 Aug 2014 08:13:54 -0600

[Chris J Arges (arges)]

The verification of the Stable Release Update for linux-firmware-nonfree has completed successfully and the package has now been released to -updates. Subsequently, the Ubuntu Stable Release Updates Team is being unsubscribed and will not receive messages about this bug report. In the event that you encounter a regression using the package from -updates please report a new bug using ubuntu-bug and tag the bug report regression-update so we can easily find any regressions.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package linux-firmware-nonfree - 1.14ubuntu3

---------------
linux-firmware-nonfree (1.14ubuntu3) trusty; urgency=medium

  * Forgot to remove B43 logic from debian/rules. Fixes FTBS.
    Revised changelog entry for 1.14ubuntu2.

linux-firmware-nonfree (1.14ubuntu2) trusty; urgency=medium

  * Drop B43.tgz for license concerns. This could cause regressions with existing
    users. However, there are clear instructions at
    http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43 for how to install this firmware.
    -LP: #1326776
 -- Tim Gardner <email address hidden> Wed, 13 Aug 2014 08:24:34 -0600

[wgroiss (wolfgang-groiss-gmx)]

@janitor: Installation was now successful with this instruction for how to install this firmware:
  http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43
And wlan works after disable of proprietary driver in Tab "Additional Driver" in "Software & Updates".
Thanx!