I've heard of companies like BMW (not true, see edit) just ignoring requests for GPL code, or promising to release it but just never doing so.

And that's a shitty thing to do which I 100% disagree with, but at least it gives lip service that they are doing something wrong. If what this reviewer says is true, the company just told him no.

That's not ignoring copyright/GPL, that's laughing in it's face.

Edit: BMW apparently did not do that, I probably read that somewhere that had an axe to grind...

The case you heard about was overhyped. BMW did provide source code.

It required a second request, and BMW's internal bureaucracy took some days (or weeks?), but they did fully comply.

Fair enough! But that was just one of many that i've heard of.

The Register provides a brief summary of the BMW matter:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/30/bmw_complies_with_gp...