Release of Omnifi GPL-licensed Code

We, the undersigned, have joined this petition with the intent of persuading SimpleDevices (owned by Universal Electronics Inc.) and Rockford Corporation to release relevant GPL-protected source code for the Omnifi DMS1 and DMP1 music players. These two companies have jointly developed a terrific product. The user community would like to further improve upon these products by offering even more features. This will in turn help to promote the Omnifi product line and lead to increased sales due to expanded functionality. Browsing online forums and blogs shows that people have started purchasing Omnifi devices exclusively due to the potential functionality provided by current open source software development efforts.

For the enthusiast development community to enable the full potential of Omnifi devices, access to the bootloader is required so that a more full-featured kernel can be loaded. If this bootloader and kernel were completely developed by SimpleDevices using closed-source code, third party enthusiasts would have no option but to develop their own code. However, Omnifi devices use modified versions of GPL-licensed bootloader and kernel.

Bootloader: The ARMBOOT bootloader used by Omnifi devices is GPL-licensed. The code of the ARMBOOT bootloader has been modified to incorporate specific kernel validation techniques. Because the source code of ARMBOOT was directly modified, it must be released to the public under the GPL license.

Kernel: The Linux kernel used by Omnifi devices is GPL-licensed. The code of the Linux kernel has been modified to directly include device drivers. If these device drivers were external modules that were privately coded, they would not have to be released under the GPL license. However, these device drivers are not external modules but rather have been merged with the Linux kernel code. Because of this, the source code of this modified kernel must be released publicly.

At this point in time, both SimpleDevices (Universal Electronics Inc) and Rockford Corporation are not in compliance with the GPL license. SimpleDevices modified two GPL-licensed code sets. SimpleDevices sold this modified, GPL-protected software to Rockford Corporation. Rockford Corporation, in turn, sold this software to the public within the Omnifi DMS1 and DMP1 music players. Because this software is GPL-protected, the modified source code must be released to the public. The original authors of the code released the code for public use with the stipulation that any modifications to the code must also be released publicly. Since this modified code has not been released, both SimpleDevices and Rockford Corporation are not in compliance with copyright laws.


Additional Information:
The text of the GPL (Gnu Public License): http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.txt
GPL FAQ: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html
Additional GPL information: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html#GPL

SimpleDevices Contact Information:
http://www.simpledevices.com
General: [email protected]
Sales: [email protected]
Press: [email protected]

SimpleDevices, Inc.
2121 El Camino Real, 11th Floor
San Mateo, CA 94403
Main: (650) 356-7000
Fax: (650) 356-0843

Universal Electronics Inc Contact Information:
UEI Corporate Headquarters
Universal Electronics
6101 Gateway Drive
Cypress, CA 90630-4841
Phone 714.820.1000
Fax 714.820.1010

International Headquarters
Universal Electronics bv
Institutenweg 21
7521 PH Enschede
The Netherlands
Phone +31 53.488.8000
Fax +31 53.432.7080

Rockford Corporation Contact Information:
http://www.rockfordcorp.com

In the United States:
Rockford Corporation
600 South Rockford Drive
Tempe, AZ 85281
United States of America
TEL: 480-967-3565
FAX: 480-967-8132

In Europe:
Rockford Elektronik Vertiebs GmbH
Im Leuschnerpark 4
64347 Griesheim,
GERMANY
TEL: +49.(0)6155.8681.0
FAX: +49.(0)6155.8681.50

In Singapore:
Rockford Singapore Corporation
102 E. Pasir Panjang Rd.