Possible GPL violation by Avermedia

[Hartmut Hackmann]

Hi,

Mikhail Gusarov wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> Avermedia released binary-only drivers for Linux for they TV tuner
> card "AVerTV Hybrid+FM Cardbus (E506R)":
> http://www.avermedia.com/cgi-bin/support_driverbympdpro.asp?category=TV%20Cardbus&category2=Hybrid&proname=17&modelno=E506R.
> Their driver is named saa713x.
> 
> This card uses saa7134 chip, and (GPL-licensed) driver for this chip
> is in v4l Linux kernel, named saa7134. I tried to make the saa7134
> work with mentioned card, and found the suspicious similarity between
> exported symbols of saa713x and saa7134. I checked the implementation
> of couple of simple functions in drivers (comparing assembly code),
> and found that they are identical.
> 
> Seems to be GPL violation by Avermedia.
> 
> Please, keep both mailing lists in CC.
> 
The copyright owner of most of the saa7134 driver is Gerd Knorr.
To my opinion:
Before we accuse anybody, we should:
1) Ask Gerd whether he gave a special license to Avermedia
2) If no, ask Avermedia for a comment.

Best regards
    Hartmut