HDMI Forum rejects AMD's HDMI 2.1 open-source driver

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

HDMI Forum decision and legal/IP context

  • HDMI 2.1 specs were made non-public in 2021; access requires NDAs and licensing via HDMI Forum/HDMI LA.
  • AMD accessed the spec under NDA, so releasing an open-source driver that embeds spec “secrets” would violate that NDA.
  • Some argue clean-room reverse engineering would be legal, but AMD chose the NDA path, which now blocks open code.
  • There is debate over whether the sensitive material is trade secrets vs copyrightable content and what that implies for leaks or third‑party implementations.

Open-source, Linux, and AMD implications

  • Linux users lose HDMI 2.1 features (e.g., 4K@120Hz, VRR) on AMD’s otherwise open drivers, while proprietary drivers or other vendors can ship full support.
  • Suggestions that AMD should “leak” the driver face pushback: it would be illegal, couldn’t be maintained by AMD, likely couldn’t go in mainline kernels, and would be fragile out‑of‑tree.
  • Some propose fallback drivers or user-installed modules, but legality and distro support are questioned.

DisplayPort vs HDMI: technology and ecosystem

  • Many see HDMI as technically inferior and encumbered (royalties, HDCP, ARC/CEC complexity, unreliability, long handshake delays).
  • DisplayPort is viewed as cleaner and packet‑based, with features like MST and better alignment with USB‑C Alt Mode; it effectively underlies many USB‑C and internal eDP links already.
  • Counterpoints: TVs and many monitors lack DP; HDMI’s ARC/eARC and CEC remain important for TV/soundbar/AVR setups. DP lacks a direct ARC equivalent and a return audio channel.
  • Bandwidth anecdotes: DP1.4 can be limiting for high-refresh HDR; HDMI 2.1 sometimes wins on raw bandwidth unless DP2.0 and/or DSC are available.
  • DP↔HDMI adapters work but are asymmetric and often limited in supported modes.

Government, standards, and market power

  • Some call for regulation: mandating open standards or treating HDMI Forum as a cartel/gatekeeper (EU DMA, antitrust angles).
  • Others blame IP law (patents, DMCA, trade secrets) for enabling such control; there’s a long side‑discussion on monopolies, “free markets,” and whether IP should be curtailed or abolished.
  • A few suggest consumer pressure: avoid proprietary standards where possible, favor DP/USB‑C, and let HDMI wither in the long run.

User experiences and workarounds

  • Users report practical issues: TVs as monitors limited to HDMI, difficulty achieving advertised 4K120/144Hz, ARC quirks, and EDID/handshake bugs.
  • Workarounds mentioned include using DP‑to‑HDMI 2.1 active adapters, preferring DP on PCs, and relying on USB‑C/DP Alt Mode where available.