As part of the Fedora Project [1], I'm trying to package [2] the ALSA firmware up for easy distribution to Fedora users.
The trouble is that the licensing seems unclear. Specifically:
a) Several firmwares claim to be under the GPL but don't specify a version and don't include source - see https://bugtrack.alsa-project.org/alsa-bug/view.php?id=3411
b) More worryingly, the Emagic EMI 2|6 firmware appears to be under a "license" which prohibits ANY redistribution. Quoting from emi_26_62/license.txt (my emphasis):
"The firmware contained herein is Copyright (c) 1999-2002 Emagic as an unpublished work. This notice does not imply unrestricted or public access to this firmware which is a trade secret of Emagic, and which ***may not be reproduced, used, sold or transferred to any third party without Emagic's written consent.***"
Does the ALSA project have special authorisation ("written consent") to distribute this? Who within the ALSA project is responsible for the -firmware package and might be able to help resolve some of these queries? Does anyone have a contact at Emagic (which seems to have been bought by Apple) to discuss relaxing the firmware conditions slightly?
Any information most welcome. We'd really like to get the firmware in Fedora.
Thanks,
Tim
[1] http://www.fedoraproject.org/ [2] https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=217259