Formal Demand for Release of Kernel Source Code – Redmi Note 13 4G (sapphire) #40577
Description
The Legal Obligation Under GPLv2
Xiaomi has long been a leader in the smartphone industry, but leadership comes with responsibility—specifically, legal responsibility. The Redmi Note 13 4G (codename: sapphire) has been on the market for a considerable time, yet the company has failed to release its Kernel Source Code.
The Linux Kernel, which powers Android, is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2). This license is not a suggestion; it is a legally binding contract. By using Linux in their devices, Xiaomi is legally obligated to provide the source code to the public upon request.
Violation of Intellectual Property Laws
By withholding the "sapphire" kernel source, Xiaomi is currently in direct violation of international copyright laws and open-source licensing agreements. This delay hinders the developer community, prevents security audits, and limits the device's longevity.
Failure to comply with these terms is not just a "delay"—it is an act of intellectual property infringement. This puts the company at risk of:
Legal Action: Lawsuits from copyright holders of the Linux kernel.
Regulatory Scrutiny: Investigations by trade commissions regarding software compliance.
Reputational Damage: Losing the trust of the global developer community and tech-savvy consumers.
A Call to Action
The community demands transparency. We urge Xiaomi to immediately upload the kernel source code for the Redmi Note 13 4G to their official GitHub repository.
Ignoring these legal obligations will inevitably lead to formal legal challenges. Compliance is not optional, and the "sapphire" source code must be made public without further delay.