remix os The Popular Android-based Remix OS Violates GPL and Apache License

[steven36]

After the previous review of Remix OS I received a comment with interested information about Remix OS USB Tool. My small personal research found that Remix OS developers have a zero tolerance for the code licenses and work of other peoples.

 

Part 1. Unetbootin

Remix OS USB Tool – software for Windows included in the Remix OS archive.

 

Just look at this screenshot:

 

Minimum differences with UNetbootin! Just new icons and micro changes in GUI interface. Need more information and do not trust to your eyes? Not a problem – just unpack remixos-usb-tool-B2016011102.exe:

Quote

 

// file list
$ ls -l
total 4752
-rw-r----- 1 paul paul 4866048 Jan 17 22:22 remixos-usb-tool-B2016011102.exe

// unpack with 7-zip tool
$ 7z e remixos-usb-tool-B2016011102.exe

$ ls
1  1.ico  IDI_ICON1  remixos-usb-tool-B2016011102.exe  UPX0  UPX1  version.txt

$ cat version.txt
FILEVERSION    1,1,1,1
PRODUCTVERSION 1,1,1,1
FILEFLAGSMASK  0x0
FILEFLAGS      0x0
FILEOS         VOS_UNKNOWN
FILETYPE       VFT_UNKNOWN
FILESUBTYPE    0x0
{
  BLOCK "StringFileInfo"
  {
    BLOCK "040904E4"
    {
      VALUE "CompanyName",       "Geza Kovacs"
      VALUE "FileVersion",       " "
      VALUE "FileDescription",   "UNetbootin - Universal Netboot Installer - http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net"
      VALUE "InternalName",      "UNetbootin - Universal Netboot Installer"
      VALUE "LegalCopyright",    "Copyright - Geza Kovacs - License - GNU GPL v2+"
      VALUE "LegalTrademarks",   " "
      VALUE "OriginalFilename",  "unetbootin.exe"
      VALUE "ProductName",       "UNetbootin - Universal Netboot Installer"
      VALUE "ProductVersion",    " "
    }
  }
  BLOCK "VarFileInfo"
  {
    VALUE "Translation", 0x409, 1252
  }
}

 

 

 

 

Take a look at VALUE “FileDescription”:

Quote

VALUE "FileDescription", "UNetbootin - Universal Netboot Installer - http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net"

 

Yes, it’s really rebrand UNetbootin that licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) Version 2 or above. The GPL says:

 

Quote

 

You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Program’s source code as you receive it;

…

Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange;

 

 

 

 

 

Remix OS USB Tool distributes without the source codes.
 

Quote

 

You must cause the modified files to carry prominent notices stating that you changed the files and the date of any change.

 

 

No information about the modified files.

 

Part 2. Android-x86

Remix OS is based on Android-x86 Project and even have the same boot logo:

 

And the same platform in build.prop:

Quote

$ grep -i "android-x86" build.prop ro.product.model=Remix Android-x86_64 ro.board.platform=android-x86

 

I was extracting NOTICE.html from Android-x86 5.1 image and latest build of Remix OS. Let’s compare it:

Quote

$ diff -u NOTICE-remixos.html NOTICE-andx86.html

 

Output is absolutely clear – no differences! No authors, no changed files, no trademarks, just copy-paste development.

Android-x86 licensed under Apache Public License 2.0 that says:

Quote

 

You must cause any modified files to carry prominent notices stating that You changed the files;

You must retain, in the Source form of any Derivative Works that You distribute, all copyright, patent, trademark, and attribution notices from the Source form of the Work, excluding those notices that do not pertain to any part of the Derivative Works;

 

In webpage “About” on the official website, I also can’t find information about Android-x86 fork.

Short resume: the Remix OS Project doesn’t seem as serious big project.

Update: some peoples was sent requests for the source code to Jide support: thread 1, thread 2, thread 3. Answer to thread 2 is phenomenal:
 

Quote

 

the answer is no. You are not a partner of Jide. Remix OS isn’t open source.

 

 

 

 

 Maximum that I can do in this situation – write the claim to GPL Violation and say: please do not use any software or hardware from the Jide company.

Source

[SURbit]

Sounds like one barrow of sour pickles, or Remix OS is fishing in a barrow that leads to easy catches.

[steven36]

5 hours ago, SURbit said:

Sounds like one barrow of sour pickles, or Remix OS is fishing in a barrow that leads to easy catches.

 

Also I read there's problems  with the ELUA

Quote

 

Remix OS EULA Asks to Waive Rights to All User Content

Remix OS, a new desktop OS based on Android-x86 landed yesterday, but it comes with a pretty nasty EULA that should definitely be read by its users.

Many people don’t bother to read the EULA for a new operating system or application, but that is always a good idea. Unfortunately, the EULA is a huge document and most of the time you need to be a lawyer to get the finer points.

It turns out that Remix OS has a user agreement that is clearly shown before launching the OS, and it’s written in a human language that’s easy to comprehend. That’s why Remix OS users noticed really quickly that there is something very wrong with it. In fact, if any of your applications would have this kind of EULA and demands, you would immediately delete it.

Remix OS is made in China

The most obvious explanation is that Remix OS is made in China, which is not a democracy. It’s run by a government that enforces censorship and that wants to know everything that is happening. If you’re fine with the EULA, by all means, continue to use Remix OS, but you should really take a (second) look at it.

Users are warned that they will be breaking the law if they are caught leaking state secrets, subverting the government, and undermining national unity. It already sounds like it's taken from an Orwellian world, but it gets worse from here on.

“Harming national honor and interests; Inciting ethnic hatred or ethnic discrimination, and undermining national unity; Undermining national religious policy, promoting cults and superstitions; Spreading rumor, disturbing social order, undermining social stability,” reads the EULA that’s been posted in a Reddit thread.

The last part of the agreements is the one that really caught people’s attention. Users agree to irrevocably waive any and all ownership, legal and moral rights to their content.

It's also true that this kind of EULA is also present for devices from other Chinese companies like Xiamoi or Huawei.

Since this distribution is made in China, it’s not clear whether this will apply in other countries where the laws are very different. In any case, this is a good reminder that we should all read the user agreements more carefully.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/remix-os-has-eula-that-asks-users-to-waive-rights-to-all-user-content-498848.shtml

 

Anyways its far from being open source

 

[SURbit]

12 minutes ago, steven36 said:

 

Also I read there's problems  with the ELUA

Anyways its far from being open source

 

 

There's a software here that can hilite all things interesting of Eula's-

Making EULAs Easy Discover if the software you're about to install displays pop-up ads, transmits personally

identifiable information, uses unique identifiers to track you, or much much more.

EULAlyzer can analyze license agreements in seconds, and provide a detailed listing of potentially interesting

words and phrases.

http://www.nsaneforums.com/topic/259117-eulalyzer-v22-analyze-license-agreements/#comment-1033507

Free version is just as good a pro v. - you just do a little more yourself, end results still give same info. of eula.

[ARMOUR]

Remix OS Now Respects Both GPL and Apache Licenses

Read more @ softpedia

[steven36]

45 minutes ago, ARMOUR said:

Remix OS Now Respects Both GPL and Apache Licenses

Read more @ softpedia

Did they change the ELUA  as well ? I'm not found of using software made in China to connect  to the internet its OK if i can block it with a firewall , Maybe a fork of this will  come out latter on  and   i will test it . I lost all faith  in Jide they should of followed protocol to begin with .

 

Also  how safe is it to use something like this  ? 

Security  bugs in Linux distros  are patched are fast as they get info  were in Android  it takes them much longer to patch as the post above explains .

 

[DKT27]

Now that they have fixed it, let me say that let them lead the way, more and even better alternatives will come I think.

[steven36]

2 hours ago, DKT27 said:

Now that they have fixed it, let me say that let them lead the way, more and even better alternatives will come I think.

1st thing Jide  needs to worry about is fixing the kernel  flaw , its ran by 3 former  Google employes . All you need  is open source and a resentment and you can start you're own software company .

 

I read maybe many are going be switching to Apple's iOS because Google never patch holes

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/01/20/another-new-kernel-flaw-that-google-wont-fix-for-android-users-prompts-more-switching-to-apples-ios

 

If they smart they would no way id stay on a bug ridden Android  device .

[DKT27]

If I am not mistaken they are releasing regular updates, if so, they might fix them.

 

I'm not found of the devs I must mention, I mean, after hearing about them playing around the licenses. Almost thought that another project that turns out worthless or idiotic. But good that they have fixed their mistake.

 

I doubt that it's possible to switch to a proprietary OS. I have no idea how well does Google fix the kernel problems though.

[steven36]

52 minutes ago, DKT27 said:

I doubt that it's possible to switch to a proprietary OS. I have no idea how well does Google fix the kernel problems though.

If they care about there security they will buy a new phone i feel sorry for people who maybe cant afford one . Because getting bugs in Android the updates have to come through the  phone vendors  . Its sort of like bugs they find in pc components and the vendors never supply the firmware updates. Google has no control  to fix it  really.
 

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"Google still has very little control over software updates, and Android users are basically at the mercy of their carriers and phone manufacturers when it comes to getting updates or new operating system versions."

 

Apple released  updates patching the holes in there phones while millions of Android users are still exposed to Linux Kernel Vulnerability (CVE-2016-0728)..  Both the Linux Distros I have on my Gateway Desktop  the Kernel  bug has been patched 2 days ago trough applying  updates .