Why Mediatek don't share source code, and why they should!

Mediatek are in the headlines again for keeping the source code for the Omate Truesmart watch to themselves, but the problems run deeper than that.

As we all know, any manufacturer which produces an Android smartphone/device should release the kernel source code as part of the GPL agreements. Generally there are companies which do this quickly, those who stall and eventually release, and those who keep their money grabbing hands locked tightly together.

Mediatek are the money grabbing type and to date have not released source code for their current chipsets which include the quad-core MT6582, MT6589(T), octacore MT6592 etc. What is worrying is that these are the processors found in many of the Chinese phones we report on on a daily basis!

Why do we need Mediatek Source Code?

As Adam Outler describes over on XDA, one of the major reasons we need Source Code for Mediatek phones is to fix the problems which Mediatek have ignored. Security issues, problems with Bluetooth, and GPS (as we have all learned) could be easily fixed by a community of developers! Patches can then be created and distributed to everyone so we an all enjoy a secure, up to date Mediatek experience, not to mention possible 3rd party roms like OMNI ROM, Cyanogenmod and others could be ported.

Why don’t Mediatek release Source Code?

Mediatek will happily release the source code for their processors but at a price (which is against the GPL policies Android is distributed under). You can contact Mediatek now and pay for a license for your chip, but how many thousands of $ would they ask we don’t know, and the fact is it should be free.

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Mediatek don’t want to offer source code as it forces customers to upgrade their phones to the next version with the latest processor. For example if we take a look at a quad-core MT6589T phone with 2GB RAM we can see it is most likely running Android 4.2, the phone is more than capable of 4.4 (and higher) but the chances of an official update are slim! Customers wanting the latest Android OS are forced to buy a newer phone!

Why don’t manufacturers do something?

Mediatek processors power the majority of Chinese phones plus a few European and Indian phones. Larger companies could (in theory) buy licences for each of the phones and supply customers so that development can be carried out. The problem here though is that prices of the phone will rise considerably and this is not what buyers want.

Smaller manufacturers in China, such as Omate, have a different problem. They don’t have an official deal with Mediatek but instead buy their chips in smaller quantities from a 3rd party source. This means no direct line with Mediatek and could mean additional fees will be required.

Why should Mediatek release the source code?

Releasing source code would;

Improve Mediatek’s public image.
Open up Mediatek products to a larger market share.
Save Mediatek money in development costs.
Ensure Mediatek phones have up to date firmware.
Ensure prompt security and bug fixes.
Allow 3rd party ROMs to be supported.
ETC

Mediatek will surely eventually change their minds about their source code policies, we just need to keep putting pressure on the company and the manufacturers which use their processors. Let’s all hope a change is sooner rather than later!

What do you think about this current Mediatek crisis? Let us know in the comments below.

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

About the author
Andi

tweetycontrabajo
March 24, 2014
Well, it is very unethical to do that.
They don’t even have brilliant developers, stock firmwares full of bugs and stuff.
And our phones desearve Kitkat, is about time to have the update.
they don’t do it, and don’t let developers do.
;(

Tux
March 24, 2014
Sounds like it is time for the FFS to take legal action against Mediatek, to enforce compliance with the GPL. They already successful enforced GPL compliance of thickheaded companies in other cases in Europe as well as in the US and Mediatek has offices in both locations.
- zihotki
  March 24, 2014
  Does anybody know what needs to be done to make that happen? Can we somehow organize and write an open letter or whatever to FFS asking to do that?
- Gaurav Arora
  March 25, 2014
  The sad part is that MediaTek is based out of China, and the lawsuit would have to be placed in the Chinese courts. How much will that mount to or how far it’ll go is very hard to tell…
  - Brian
    March 25, 2014
    - Gaurav Arora
      March 26, 2014
- arty
  March 25, 2014
  but it can ban this chip from countries other than CN and this is a serious threat.

zihotki
March 24, 2014
For afore mentioned issues (gps, bluetooth, etc.) I’m thinking to switch to more expensive phones based on Qualcomm :(. And from developer point of view Mtk makes stupid things, instead of creating the community and relying on it they try to put it in cuffs, also from economic point of view of a user at the end it could be that cost of owning Mtk based phone (no updates, no fixes, etc.) will be greater than owning a more expensive but more open one.

$2548414
March 25, 2014
Generally people in the know have been avoiding Mediatek based phones..only because of issues raised by gizchina..now time to totally avoid Mediatek..
Xiaolu
March 25, 2014
Share code + agreement with Ubuntu and I’m in.
Smartphone sells are reaching their limit (slowly, that’s true), soon sharing code and upgrading will be the best ways to sell more phones. Open platforms would rock then (with Android OS as leader, obviously).

Guest
March 25, 2014
Well, it is very unethical to do that.
They don’t even have brilliant developers, stock firmwares full of bugs and stuff.
And our phones desearve Kitkat, is about time to have the update.
they don’t do it, and don’t let developers do.
;(
Guest
March 25, 2014
Sounds like it is time for the FFS to take legal action against Mediatek, to enforce compliance with the GPL. They already successful enforced GPL compliance of thickheaded companies in other cases in Europe as well as in the US and Mediatek has offices in both locations.
- zihotki
  March 25, 2014
  Does anybody know what needs to be done to make that happen? Can we somehow organize and write an open letter or whatever to FFS asking to do that?
- Gaurav Arora
  March 25, 2014
  The sad part is that MediaTek is based out of China, and the lawsuit would have to be placed in the Chinese courts. How much will that mount to or how far it’ll go is very hard to tell…

Guest
March 25, 2014
Sounds like it is time for the FFS to take legal action against Mediatek, to enforce compliance with the GPL. They already successful enforced GPL compliance of thickheaded companies in other cases in Europe as well as in the US and Mediatek has offices in both locations.
- zihotki
  March 25, 2014
  Does anybody know what needs to be done to make that happen? Can we somehow organize and write an open letter or whatever to FFS asking to do that?
- Gaurav Arora
  March 25, 2014
  The sad part is that MediaTek is based out of China, and the lawsuit would have to be placed in the Chinese courts. How much will that mount to or how far it’ll go is very hard to tell…
- Guest
  March 25, 2014
  but it can ban this chip from countries other than CN and this is a serious threat.
- Guest
  March 25, 2014
  but it can ban this chip from countries other than CN and this is a serious threat.
- Guest
  March 25, 2014
  MediaTek is based in Taiwan.
- Gaurav Arora
  March 26, 2014
  Oh yes, I do stand corrected, MediaTek has its HQ in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

zihotki
March 25, 2014
For afore mentioned issues (gps, bluetooth, etc.) I’m thinking to switch to more expensive phones based on Qualcomm :(. And from developer point of view Mtk makes stupid things, instead of creating the community and relying on it they try to put it in cuffs, also from economic point of view of a user at the end it could be that cost of owning Mtk based phone (no updates, no fixes, etc.) will be greater than owning a more expensive but more open one.

Mihnea Perianu
March 25, 2014
How do we put pressure on Mediatek? Write them emails? I own a C2 Platinum and is very frustrating to see the same old 4.2.1 version on any ROM I install. Gizchina MUST write about this all the time, maybe in the near future Mediatek will listen to majority. I love Mediatek and low cost performance, but I need latest Android on my devices.

lokiisyourmaster
March 25, 2014
I love the low cost performance MTK offers, but with my current phone being Nexus 4 with daily CyanogenMod updates, I’m pretty sure my next phone won’t be MediaTek-based.
Guest
March 25, 2014
Generally people in the know have been avoiding Mediatek based phones..only because of issues raised by gizchina..now time to totally avoid Mediatek..

highwind
March 25, 2014
Beating on a dead horse again…
Fact #1:
Far over 90% of all smartphone user absolutely do not care about, Android version, updates, custom roms and the likes.
Fact #2:
Currently not even 10% of all Android devices run 4.3 or 4.4!
About 35% run 4.1 and another 25% run 2.x, so with a 4.2 Mediatek Smartphone you are more up to date than the fast majority of Android users.
- Gaurav Arora
  March 25, 2014
  It’s not just about updates or custom ROMs, it’s a lot about buggy device functions due to poorly managed codes, with Bluetooth and GPS being the famous defaulters in MediaTek chips.
  - highwind
    March 25, 2014
    You are right that some Mediatek based phones have these problems and that it is probably because of poorly coded roms… But with choosing a quality brand and/or well tested smartphone you can usually avoid this.
    It is just that I dont see any point in this “discussion” – Mediatek has chosen to not share source code and this is a well known fact for quite some time… we can deal with it or buy something else.
    Or in other words:^
    Would it be nicer for us if they did? – Probably yes
    Will they do if we demand it? – Probably not
- toioioio
  March 25, 2014
  id say casual users do not care about updates,because they do know,they exist and that is because,phone makers,suck big time at this particular thing,by not offering any.
  mtk phones are plagued by problems that could be very easily solved,provided there was an open code to work on…
  By the way,if i wanted a locked phone,id go for IOS not android.

Gaurav Arora
March 25, 2014
Hi Andi, do you have any intel on $/microchip (dollar per chip) price MediaTek offers? Let’s say for a basic quad-core MT6589 chip?
Xiaolu
March 25, 2014
Share code + agreement with Ubuntu and I’m in.
Smartphone sells are reaching their limit (slowly, that’s true), soon sharing code and upgrading will be the best ways to sell more phones. Open platforms would rock then (with Android OS as leader, obviously).

Krida
March 25, 2014
i hope Google make a move for this case.. since Google is android creator and MTK applied in many android device (almost all MTK chipsets run android)
please google… do something

Peter Pan
March 25, 2014
Well… then maybe YOU (Andi) should start to boycot MTK. I guess GizChina is one of the biggest advertisement platforms for MTK phone buyers outside of China. Add a huge banner to each article about MTK phones that it is actually a non-legal product. And by buying those phones you are involved in the whole non-legal process yuorself too.
Or maybe start a petition. Or both?
OnlyMe999
March 25, 2014
Google needs to start suing GPL violators.

Marius Cirsta
March 25, 2014
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. This is not a problem strictly related to Mediatek but with Chinese phone manufacturers.
I’ve bought 3 Chinese phones that don’t have Mediatek SOCs , 2 with Qualcomm SOS and one with an Ericsson SOC. Did I get the source code ? Absolutely not. Does Qualcomm stop manufacturers from providing the source code ? I don’t really think so.
It’s not Mediatek’s responsibility to share the source code, it’s the phone manufacturer’s. Lenovo for instance provides the source code the their MTK6582 based A680 here:
http://download.lenovo.com/consumer/open_source_code/lenovo_a680_open_source_20140211.rar
So yes, you can respect the GPL even if you have a Mediatek SOC and you can not respect it even if you have a Qualcomm. Pressure should be put on the phone manufacturers which simply refuse the respect the GPL in China. Even Lenovo only respects the GPL for phone which they sell outside of China only.

Mihnea Perianu
March 25, 2014
How do we put pressure on Mediatek? Write them emails? I own a C2 Platinum and is very frustrating to see the same old 4.2.1 version on any ROM I install. Gizchina MUST write about this all the time, maybe in the near future Mediatek will listen to majority. I love Mediatek and low cost performance, but I need latest Android on my devices.

Zeca
March 25, 2014
The success of the Mediatek is the result of slowness and incompetence of Qualcomm. If the Qualcomm were fast and develop cheaper and effective products, the Mediatek, possibly, would be other conduct.
lokiisyourmaster
March 25, 2014
I love the low cost performance MTK offers, but with my current phone being Nexus 4 with daily CyanogenMod updates, I’m pretty sure my next phone won’t be MediaTek-based.

provokanter Tabellenführer
March 25, 2014
Beating on a dead horse again…
Fact #1:
Far over 90% of all smartphone user absolutely do not care about, Android version, updates, custom roms and the likes.
Fact #2:
Currently not even 10% of all Android devices run 4.3 or 4.4!
About 35% run 4.1 and another 25% run 2.x, so with a 4.2 Mediatek Smartphone you are more up to date than the fast majority of Android users.
- Gaurav Arora
  March 25, 2014
  It’s not just about updates or custom ROMs, it’s a lot about buggy device functions due to poorly managed codes, with Bluetooth and GPS being the famous defaulters in MediaTek chips.
- provokanter Tabellenführer
  March 25, 2014
  You are right that some Mediatek based phones have these problems and that it is probably because of poorly coded roms… But with choosing a quality brand and/or well tested smartphone you can usually avoid this.
  It is just that I dont see any point in this “discussion” – Mediatek has chosen to not share source code and this is a well known fact for quite some time… we can deal with it or buy something else.
  Or in other words:^
  Would it be nicer for us if they did? – Probably yes
  Will they do if we demand it? – Probably not
- toioioio
  March 26, 2014
  id say casual users do not care about updates,because they do know,they exist and that is because,phone makers,suck big time at this particular thing,by not offering any.
  mtk phones are plagued by problems that could be very easily solved,provided there was an open code to work on…
  By the way,if i wanted a locked phone,id go for IOS not android.

Gaurav Arora
March 25, 2014
Hi Andi, do you have any intel on $/microchip (dollar per chip) price MediaTek offers? Let’s say for a basic quad-core MT6589 chip?
Guest
March 25, 2014
i hope Google make a move for this case.. since Google is android creator and MTK applied in many android device (almost all MTK chipsets run android)
please google… do something

Guest
March 25, 2014
Well… then maybe YOU (Andi) should start to boycot MTK. I guess GizChina is one of the biggest advertisement platforms for MTK phone buyers outside of China. Add a huge banner to each article about MTK phones that it is actually a non-legal product. And by buying those phones you are involved in the whole non-legal process yuorself too.
Or maybe start a petition. Or both?
OnlyMe999
March 25, 2014
Google needs to start suing GPL violators.

Marius Cirsta
March 25, 2014
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. This is not a problem strictly related to Mediatek but with Chinese phone manufacturers.
I’ve bought 3 Chinese phones that don’t have Mediatek SOCs , 2 with Qualcomm SOS and one with an Ericsson SOC. Did I get the source code ? Absolutely not. Does Qualcomm stop manufacturers from providing the source code ? I don’t really think so.
It’s not Mediatek’s responsibility to share the source code, it’s the phone manufacturer’s. Lenovo for instance provides the source code the their MTK6582 based A680 here:
http://download.lenovo.com/consumer/open_source_code/lenovo_a680_open_source_20140211.rar
So yes, you can respect the GPL even if you have a Mediatek SOC and you can not respect it even if you have a Qualcomm. Pressure should be put on the phone manufacturers which simply refuse the respect the GPL in China. Even Lenovo only respects the GPL for phone which they sell outside of China only.

noname
March 25, 2014
I can’t really think how innacurate things are presented here. This problem persists since the birth of wireless communication. Mediatek does not give a dime (not using a stronger word) for the applications processor software. The one BIG matter that every company that produces this kind of chips is the BASEBAND!!!!! Noone has released anything (*does not mean that it hasn’t leaked) and noone will ever do. So, please don’t waste my time reading children articles like this…. Please do look deeper to see where the problem is and why they don’t share anything. A hit would be that Mediatek shares the baseband with the applications processor in the same chip, so no more talks…. Figure out by yourself what’s going on.

Abdu
March 25, 2014
No More Mediatek phones.. no more for me. good phone, but not good support. No More Mediatek phones
Guest
March 25, 2014
The success of the Mediatek is the result of slowness and incompetence of Qualcomm. If the Qualcomm were fast and develop cheaper and effective products, the Mediatek, possibly, would be other conduct.

Guest
March 25, 2014
I can’t really think how innacurate things are presented here. This problem persists since the birth of wireless communication. Mediatek does not give a dime (not using a stronger word) for the applications processor software. The one BIG matter that every company that produces this kind of chips is the BASEBAND!!!!! Noone has released anything (*does not mean that it hasn’t leaked) and noone will ever do. So, please don’t waste my time reading children articles like this…. Please do look deeper to see where the problem is and why they don’t share anything. A hit would be that Mediatek shares the baseband with the applications processor in the same chip, so no more talks…. Figure out by yourself what’s going on.

Guest
March 25, 2014
No More Mediatek phones.. no more for me. good phone, but not good support. No More Mediatek phones
monstercameron
March 26, 2014
selling the source isnt against the gpl…shipping the binary and denying the source is.
monstercameron
March 26, 2014
selling the source isnt against the gpl…shipping the binary and denying the source is.

HarHarMahadev
March 26, 2014
Andi is there a petition raised for releasing source code? If not can you help to raise one on behalf of all 🙂 we will try hard to get the signup!!!!
Guest
March 26, 2014
Andi is there a petition raised for releasing source code? If not can you help to raise one on behalf of all 🙂 we will try hard to get the signup!!!!
- Andi Sykes
  March 27, 2014

HarHarMahadev
March 27, 2014
Guys here is the petition link http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/aosp-support-for-mediatek-devices/
Try to bring in more crowd to sign, All the best!!! Hope we get signups faster… 🙂
Guest
March 27, 2014
Guys here is the petition link http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/aosp-support-for-mediatek-devices/
Try to bring in more crowd to sign, All the best!!! Hope we get signups faster… 🙂

Jakemeister
April 22, 2014
The problem i suspect its the proprietary Dual SIM technology that mediatek holds a market leading position in developing nations favoring a dual sim lifestyle.. releasing this source code will reveal the golden nugget to competitors…
Unless the landscape changes, competitors catching up on dual sims or the advent of single sim multi phone numbers tech, I think Mediatek will continue to keep delaying this release…

Guest
April 22, 2014
The problem i suspect its the proprietary Dual SIM technology that mediatek holds a market leading position in developing nations favoring a dual sim lifestyle.. releasing this source code will reveal the golden nugget to competitors…
Unless the landscape changes, competitors catching up on dual sims or the advent of single sim multi phone numbers tech, I think Mediatek will continue to keep delaying this release…
Choong Kon Keong
April 25, 2014
very simple! stop buying phone with MT in it! Period! There’s so many choices out there!
- Ocenyx
  August 1, 2014
Choong Kon Keong
April 25, 2014
very simple! stop buying phone with MT in it! Period! There’s so many choices out there!
- Guest
  August 1, 2014

Ryan Tine
May 30, 2014
Thanks for the heads up! Our CEO won’t do business with companies which refuse the release of code under a free software license. Will make sure he knows about Mediatek’s position.
Ryan Tine
May 31, 2014
Thanks for the heads up! Our CEO won’t do business with companies which refuse the release of code under a free software license. Will make sure he knows about Mediatek’s position.

Mika
September 30, 2014
MediaTek will not, and I repeat will not release their code.
Why? The answer couldn’t be simpler: Money!
By NOT releasing the source code, MediaTek can control the lifespan on their chipsets, and therefore they can control the lifespan on devices that has been released.
By having a controlled lifespan, MediaTek can re-relase new incarnations of their chipsets, and with that manufacturers can/will/must sell updated devices.
A device that have a fully open source have a WAY too long lifespan, and that is not good for the chipset makers nor the manufacturers.
What can we, the customers, do?
Simple: Boycott MediaTek based devices.
They are not good for us. No matter how cheap they are. Even less good for the environment, as we have to throw away a perfectly good device that would have been fully working if it was possible to update it beyond the intended lifespan.

Mika
September 30, 2014
MediaTek will not, and I repeat will not release their code.
Why? The answer couldn’t be simpler: Money!
By NOT releasing the source code, MediaTek can control the lifespan on their chipsets, and therefore they can control the lifespan on devices that has been released.
By having a controlled lifespan, MediaTek can re-relase new incarnations of their chipsets, and with that manufacturers can/will/must sell updated devices.
A device that have a fully open source have a WAY too long lifespan, and that is not good for the chipset makers nor the manufacturers.
What can we, the customers, do?
Simple: Boycott MediaTek based devices.
They are not good for us. No matter how cheap they are. Even less good for the environment, as we have to throw away a perfectly good device that would have been fully working if it was possible to update it beyond the intended lifespan.
Archies
January 15, 2015

Why Mediatek don’t share source code, and why they should!

Why do we need Mediatek Source Code?

Why don’t Mediatek release Source Code?

Gizchina News of the week

Why don’t manufacturers do something?

Why should Mediatek release the source code?

Andi

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