Guide to Android Open Source Compliance

Android is an open source operating system for mobile devices and a corresponding open source project led by Google. The Android Open Source Project (AOSP) repository offers the information and source code needed to create custom variants of the Android OS, port devices and accessories to the Android platform, and ensure devices meet the compatibility requirements that keep the Android ecosystem healthy.

As the world's most widely used mobile operating system, Android powers billions of devices globally. AOSP provides the foundation that allows manufacturers to create customized versions of Android while maintaining compatibility with the broader ecosystem of apps and services.

Google makes the AOSP available to users under the Apache 2.0 Software License. This means the AOSP is free to use and alter, but users are required to generate notice files any time they make additions to the underlying code, ensuring proper attribution of components.

The Android Open Source Project provides the foundation for the Android ecosystem

While AOSP provides immense value to developers and manufacturers, it also presents significant license compliance challenges. AOSP has an enormous amount of code, requiring developers to navigate complex licensing requirements that can create substantial overhead.

One of the most significant challenges is that AOSP-generated NOTICE.html files are sometimes missing details, making them insufficient for license compliance. For many licenses, a valid interpretation is that including only a copy of the license is insufficient—you need to reproduce every variant (e.g., different copyright statements) of the license present in the source code.

These challenges create several problems for organizations developing with AOSP:

• Incomplete Compliance: Gaps in NOTICE files can result in non-compliance, risking legal, reputational, and financial consequences.
• Slower Pace of Software Releases: Manually adding each license slows down releases, impacting time-to-market.
• Error-Prone Process: AOSP's massive codebase and lack of automation make manual compliance efforts error-prone and time-consuming.

Given the challenges of manual license compliance with AOSP projects, automation has become essential for organizations looking to maintain compliance while accelerating development cycles.

FOSSA's solution for automating AOSP license compliance

An effective automated solution for AOSP compliance should deliver several key capabilities:

• Complete NOTICE File Generation: Ensure that the NOTICE file includes not just package/component-level licenses but all relevant licenses in source files.
• Workflow Support: Provide workflows for inspection, approval, and manual overrides if necessary.
• Build System Integration: Parse the AOSP build system to accurately identify dependencies.
• Time Efficiency: Reduce the time required to update NOTICE files from days to hours.

Implementing effective license compliance for AOSP projects requires a strategic approach that balances thoroughness with efficiency. Here's a framework for establishing robust compliance practices:

1. Establish a Compliance Policy
   Define your organization's approach to license compliance, including risk tolerance, approval processes, and responsibilities.
2. Select the Right Tools
   Choose tools that can accurately scan AOSP code, identify license obligations, and generate comprehensive NOTICE files.
3. Integrate with Development Workflows
   Embed compliance checks within your CI/CD pipeline to catch issues early and prevent non-compliant code from reaching production.
4. Train Your Team
   Ensure developers understand the importance of license compliance and how to use the tools and processes you've established.
5. Establish Review Processes
   Create workflows for legal review and approval of license obligations, especially for edge cases.
6. Maintain Documentation
   Keep records of compliance activities, decisions, and generated artifacts to demonstrate due diligence.

As AOSP continues to evolve and organizations increasingly rely on it for building innovative mobile experiences, several trends are shaping the future of license compliance in this ecosystem:

• AI-Assisted Compliance: Artificial intelligence is being applied to better identify license obligations and recommend compliance actions, reducing manual effort.
• Shift-Left Compliance: License compliance is moving earlier in the development lifecycle, with tools that integrate directly into developer IDEs and provide real-time feedback.
• Standardized Compliance Artifacts: Industry standardization of compliance documentation formats like Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs) is making it easier to communicate compliance information.
• Compliance as a Competitive Advantage: Organizations are recognizing that robust compliance practices can accelerate development, reduce risk, and increase trust with customers and partners.

As these trends develop, organizations that adopt modern compliance approaches will be better positioned to leverage AOSP while minimizing legal and business risks.