Vizio getting sued by the "Software Freedom Conservancy"

The interesting bit is this lawsuit looks like it's from the consumer standpoint not the developers.. This could be a big headache for smaller companies with less resources available if this strategy pans out.

Before, these cases were made to defend the rights of developers. The SFC is taking a new tack in this lawsuit. It's being made as the purchaser of a product, which illegally contains copylefted code. This approach makes it the first legal case that focuses on the rights of individual consumers as third-party GPL beneficiaries. According to this lawsuit, you as a buyer also have the right to access the source code.

:grimacing:

Maybe someone can update my sb50's for me if this pans out

1 Like

Not sure the API or complete firmware has to be given to the purchaser but it depends on the license I guess. You might end up with some firmware code but not other things that make it function like security keys etc.. I dunno :man_shrugging:

Recognize the impacts to the small guys, as for Vizio, good for them!!

My Vizio TV that I had in my camper bricked itself during a firmware update. Went through all sorts of steps (hold down buttons, do this, etc) to recover it with tech support, when nothing worked they didn't offer to do crap. Not only didn't they offer, when I insisted they should do something to repair or replace it, they told me tough luck, it was out of warranty. I didn't unplug it or anything, it just froze up during the update and that was that.

Understand warranty and such - but when you just follow the online prompts that appear when the TV starts up, and it results in a dead TV, manufacturers should make exceptions and stand by their product. It wasn't even a large or expensive TV, probably about $300.

Bottom line - no more Vizio for me!!

1 Like