Kernel sources request for Xiaomi 11T (agate/amber)

[1tovgar]

Dear @mi-code,

I'm writing to request the immediate release of kernel sources for the Xiaomi 11T with the codenames "agate" and "amber".

The Xiaomi 11T was released with MIUI 12.5 (Android 11) powered by a modified Linux kernel version 4.14, then received a kernel update to 4.19 with the HyperOS 1 (Android 14) update. The GPLv2-only license under which the Linux kernel is distributed, paragraph 3, requires the release of the latest, complete, and corresponding sources for modified programs licensed under it.

This device was released over four years ago and stopped receiving official updates about eight months ago. The Xiaomi 11T Pro was released at the same time as the 11T. The Xiaomi Redmi K40 Gaming shares the exact same SoC-MediaTek Dimensity 1200 (MT6893). Devices with similar SoCs-their codenames Chopin and Pissarro-have their kernel sources present in the repository, and I don't see a reason why the 11T is left behind if it is not a conscious GPLv2 violation.

The Redmi K40 Gaming kernel sources, codename ares, branch ares-r-oss, despite being based on the same SoC, are not a perfect match for the 11T. There are bugs that can only be resolved by obtaining the corresponding kernel sources. Developers have to reverse-engineer them to work more or less properly on amber, and users must follow precise install instructions, which currently involve downgrading the firmware version from HyperOS 1 to MIUI 14 just to install the ROMs.

The community has been asking for kernel sources for over four years. I myself have been requesting them for the past two months; I even tried my luck with the Xiaomi Global Support Team-no luck. Emails to tousu@ received no response, legal@ rejected the email immediately with "Access denied," and the support team replied with canned responses that could be addressed to any problem.

Throughout my requests and emails, I've asked for either of the following:

1. The release of the latest, complete, and corresponding kernel sources for the Xiaomi 11T-branch amber-u-oss, agate-u-oss, or any matching equivalent; or
2. An official statement regarding the status of the kernel sources and their absence.

I've received neither. If the kernel sources are not present in this repository within several days, I will have no choice but to report this violation to the SFC. All the requests, as well as my email chain with the Customer Support Team, will serve as evidence of a conscious GPLv2 violation.

I'm open to negotiation.

The Xiaomi 11T user and ROM developer.

[Soulja87]

Thanks for sharing this with us users and modders. I’ve also contacted Xiaomi support several times without any success. What’s going on with these developers? They receive so much money from us end users; the least they could do is follow the guidelines and show some respect toward their customers.