Qualcomm briefly takes down Android code for CyanogenMod, Sony and itself
The Android community just got a big (if brief) scare. In the space of a few days, Qualcomm has both made and retracted a Digital Millennium Copyright Act request that took down 116 code repositories (many of them Android-focused) that were allegedly using the chip maker's confidential technology. As it turns out, quite a few of the targets were legitimate users running the company's open source software. And you'll definitely recognize some of the names -- the move shut down code bases maintained by the CyanogenMod custom ROM team, Sony and even Qualcomm itself. Suffice it to say that the removal would have created a lot of headaches if you wanted to modify Android for the many, many devices with Snapdragon processors.
As for the cause? Qualcomm isn't commenting on what led to the slip-up, but it tells Ausdroid that it will be taking a more cautious approach from now on. In addition to closely reviewing code, it will be "reaching out collaboratively" to find a peaceful solution to any disputes before the legal notices start flying. It won't be shocking if some of the original request recipients still find themselves in hot water, but Android tinkerers can rest easy for at least a little while.
