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Judge Signals Win for Software Freedom Conservancy in Vizio GPL Case

77 pointsby speckxtoday at 8:42 PM4 commentsview on HN

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gwdtoday at 9:15 PM

SFC's announcement:

https://sfconservancy.org/news/2025/dec/04/tentative-vizio-r...

Apparently the actual case was to be argued in a session starting at 10am pacific, with their case as number 11.

Just skimming it, it looks like the judge grants 1 of 3 requests:

1. Vizio does have a "contractual duty" to provide the source code to SFC of any GPLv2 or LGPLv2 software

2/3. Vizio is not required to either provide the source code or an offer to give the source code to all buyers of the tv of any GPLv2 (issue 2) or LGPLv2 (issue 3).

Basically, if I'm reading it correctly, they have to give you the source code if you ask for it, but they don't have to tell you that you can ask.

ETA: Oh, but 2 and 3 are denied due to some technicality about how the SFC filed for summary judgements, without making any comment about whether they would have succeeded if they'd filed things another way.

And 1 is granted because somewhere in some menu on the TV said they could request it.

So what happens if Visio removes that menu option offering to give you the source code, and someone else files the motions properly? Not clear.

In other words, it doesn't look to me like it sets a real precedent either way.

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