HDMI Forum to AMD: No, you can’t make an open source HDMI 2.1 driver
Any Linux user trying to send the highest-resolution images to a display at the fastest frame rate is out of luck for the foreseeable future, at least when it comes to an HDMI connection.
The licensing group that controls the HDMI standard, the HDMI Forum, has reportedly told AMD that it does not allow an open source implementation of the HDMI 2.1 (or HDMI 2.1+) specification, blocking tools such as AMD's FreeSync from working over HDMI connections at resolution/rate combinations like 4K at 120 Hz, or 5K at 240 Hz.
In February 2023, Deucher reported that he was "working with our [AMD] legal team to sort out what we can deliver while still complying with our obligations to HDMI Forum." Two months later, he said that AMD got "the basic functionality up and running, now we have to go through each of the features with legal and determine if/how we can expose them while still meeting our obligations." Summer and fall of 2023 went by, with legal review still underway, and in October, the decision was "in the hands of the HDMI Forum."
Update
Also here:
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The HDMI Forum rejected AMD's open source HDMI 2.1 implementation
If you were hoping at some point to see HDMI 2.1+ on Linux with AMD + Mesa, you're out of luck right now as it's simply not going to be happening.
GizmoChina:
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HDMI Forum rejects AMD’s Linux driver support for HDMI 2.1
AMD‘s recent attempt to enhance its open-source Linux graphics driver (AMDGPU) with HDMI 2.1 features has hit a roadblock. After months of internal development to support key capabilities like 4K@120Hz and 5K@240Hz, the HDMI Forum rejected AMD’s proposal.
The rejection prevents Linux users of newer AMD Radeon graphics cards from taking full advantage of HDMI 2.1-equipped displays.
AMD expressed disappointment with the Forum’s decision, stating that an open-source HDMI 2.1 implementation would not be possible without contravening HDMI Forum requirements.
The Forum cited legal and compliance concerns surrounding the open-source distribution of the HDMI 2.1 specification.
One more:
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HDMI Forum rejects AMD's proposal for open source HDMI 2.1+ support, Linux issues persist
AMD has been putting in some serious work trying to resolve these issues, but if AMD wants the issue fixed, it needs to go through the HDMI Forum because it owns the rights to the HDMI standard itself. AMD would require HDMI to go open source, and the HDMI Forum does not want that, as it would expose HDMI information to the general public.
AMD engineer Alex Deucher said: "The HDMI Forum has rejected our proposal unfortunately. At this time an open source HDMI 2.1 implementation is not possible without running afoul of the HDMI Forum requirements".
The Register:
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HDMI Forum 'blocks AMD open sourcing its 2.1 drivers'
As spotted by Linux benchmarking outfit Phoronix, AMD is having problems releasing certain versions of open-source drivers it's developed for its GPUs – because, according to the Ryzen processor designer, the HDMI Forum won't allow the code to be released as open source. Specifically, we're talking about AMD's FOSS drivers for HDMI 2.1 here.
Late coverage:
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HDMI Forum Kills AMD's Open Source Linux Driver
The HDMI standard is essentially ubiquitous more than 20 years after its debut. It's so common that it can be easy to forget that it's a proprietary standard—which can be a problem for fans of free open source software. AMD has been hoping to give a gift to the Linux faithful in the form of an open source HDMI driver, but that quest appears to be ending. The HDMI Forum has reportedly rejected AMD's legal justification, forcing it to keep the driver under wraps.
The HDMI Forum was set up in 2002 by companies like Sony, Panasonic, and Maxell, but it now has nearly 100 members. The Forum's job is to oversee the development and licensing of the HDMI standard, and it doesn't allow open access to the technology. That has been a thorn in the side of the most demanding Linux desktop users. If you want to drive a 4K or 5K monitor at high refresh rates over HDMI, you're out of luck.
AMD, a long-time member of the Forum, has been working on an open source version of the HDMI 2.1 specification since last year. That's when AMD developer Alex Deucher announced that AMD's legal team was working to determine what features the company could deliver without running afoul of its obligations to the Forum. With such a driver, AMD's open FreeSync standard could work over HDMI with high resolution and refresh.
Also late:
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Sorry Linux, HDMI 2.1 Can't Have Open-Source Drivers
Broken HDMI 2.1 functionality in AMD's open-source Linux driver will remain broken. The HDMI Forum has rejected a proposed open-source driver for the HDMI 2.1 spec, meaning that DisplayPort is still the preferred interface for high resolutions and refresh rates on open-source platforms.
The modern HDMI 2.1 spec uses Fixed Rate Link (FRL) signaling technology to deliver uncompressed video beyond 4K 60Hz. This technology is also responsible for variable refresh rate (VRR) support. But the AMD open-source Linux driver cannot utilize HDMI 2.1's FRL system. As a result, Linux users who try to use the HDMI port on their AMD GPU are stuck with sub-optimal video quality.
This problem is the subject of an ongoing, three-year-old, extremely long support ticket. AMD Linux engineer Alex Deucher occasionally comments on the support ticket and recently gave the open-source community a glimmer of hope—AMD built a functional open-source HDMI 2.1 driver! The manufacturer hoped to launch its driver in late 2023 but required approval from the HDMI Forum.
Related to this:
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NVIDIA’s Nouveau Driver On Linux Reportedly Won’t Face Trouble With HDMI 2.1 Integration
For those unaware, the HDMI Forum, a firm responsible for maintaining HDMI standards, rejected AMD's request for public access to HDMI 2.1 functionality, meaning the platform was deprived of the standard for over three years. Despite being released several years ago, Team Red has faced hindrances in enabling the standard with the AMD graphics driver on Linux; however, in the case of NVIDIA, things look seamless.
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NVIDIA's HDMI 2.1 integration is yet to occur with Nouveau, and the firm would adopt a similar approach to what they did with their Linux kernel driver, which involved using "GSP firmware blobs." However, things at AMD's camp do look gloomy right now, with the firm stuck due to their open-source approach, but you can expect a breakthrough soon, given the development team's activeness over the past few months.
And here:
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NVIDIA's new open-source Nouveau driver for Linux: no issues with HDMI 2.1, unlike AMD
NVIDIA's new open-source Linux graphics driver -- Nouveau -- won't have issues with HDMI 2.1 integration, meanwhile there's issues galore with AMD.
NVIDIA's new open-source Linux graphics driver "Nouveau" won't have issues with HDMI 2.1 integration, unlike AMD that was knocked back from getting its issues on Linux with Radeon GPUs sorted.
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AMD won’t be able to fix HDMI 2.1 errors on Linux thanks to the HDMI Forums - PC Guide
An error causing AMD Radeon users on Linux unable to use HDMI 2.1 is not going to be fixed, due to the HDMI Forum.