Do Build Environments Give Companies an End Run Around the GPL?

“I have two devices, from two different companies (who shall
remain nameless, but both are very large and well known), which run
Linux-based firmware. The companies release all their source code
to comply with the GPL, however neither of them include a build
environment or firmware utilities with the code. This means that if
you want to alter the free software on the device, you can’t
— there is no way to build a firmware image or install it on
the devices in question, effectively rendering the source code
useless. I have approached the companies directly and while one of
them acknowledges that they are not fully GPL compliant, due to
other license restrictions they cannot make their build environment
public, and they do not have the resources to rewrite it. I have
approached the FSF but their limited resources are tied up pursuing
more blatant violations (where no code at all is being released.)
Meanwhile I am stuck with two devices that only work with Internet
Explorer, and although I have the skills to rewrite each web
interface, I have no way of getting my code running on the devices
themselves. Have these companies found a convenient way to use GPL
code, whilst preventing their customers from doing the same?”

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