Mastodawn

15 minutes until our next Q&A: date -d '2025-12-19 15:00:00 +0000'

You can find the details below. Can't wait to see you there!

https://sfconservancy.org/news/2025/dec/17/people-are-talking-about-the-vizio-suit/

People are talking about the Vizio suit!

After the positive tentative ruling in our case against Vizio, we gathered in Orange County with our lawyers for what is likely the last hearing of 2025. Going into the hearing, the judge was leaning toward concluding that a request for source code — pursuant to an offer under the GPLv2 or LGPLv2.1 — constitutes a contract obligating the vendor to provide that code to the purchaser. The hearing yielded excellent press coverage, including from Tom Claburn of The Register and by Christine Hall in FOSS Force. As always, you can find more about the case on our Copyleft Compliance page.

Software Freedom Conservancy

Karen Sandler 2d ago

Software Freedom Conservancy 2d ago

Do you want to join a special, live Ask Me Anything (AMA) video chat session with Software Freedom Conservancy staff? There are two opportunities: this afternoon/evening at 18:00 US/Eastern and tomorrow at 07:00 US/Pacific:

$ date -d '2025-12-18 23:00:00 +0000'
$ date -d '2025-12-19 15:00:00 +0000'

The *ONLY* way to attend is to become an #SFC Sustainer *NOW*: https://sfconservancy.org/sustainer

#OpenSource #FreeSoftware #FOSS

Support Conservancy!

Software freedom is critical to many of today’s most pressing social issues, but it’s only effective when FOSS is for everyone. Support Conservancy today to help make that happen!

Software Freedom Conservancy

Karen Sandler Dec 13

It's been an absolute delight to be here at #LinuxPlumbers, what a great conference!

Of course, one of the big highlights for me was the BoF I ran with Denver about GPL enforcement. Folks had great feedback and enthusiasm and it was great to discuss the #Vizio case and all of our other work! Folks were particularly excited about the #DMCA exceptions we've been able to achieve, which I sometimes forget to talk about.

I'm sad it's the last day!

Karen Sandler Dec 10

Really enjoyed @z3ntu 's presentation today here in Japan. I agree with much of the assessment of the problems facing software freedom on the mobile space. I'm excited for #postmarketOS to move beyond being ready just for an average hacker and towards the average user.

Karen Sandler Dec 4

Show thread

Bradley M. Kühn Dec 4

Judge Leal takes it all under advisement. She hopes to rule both on this motion and the one from three weeks ago before the end of the calendar year.

Karen Sandler Dec 4

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Bradley M. Kühn Dec 4

#SFC attorney is pointing the judge to the fact that *of course* SFC is a third party under #GPLv2 in part because the phrase "valid to all third parties" is *right there* in Section 3!

Show thread

Karen Sandler Dec 4

@chrisjrn @conservancy Yes, I believe so!

Karen Sandler Dec 4

The summary adjudication hearing in the Vizio case is in about 10 minutes, and the judge has issued her tentative decision in favor of @conservancy saying that Vizio has a duty to provide SFC with complete corresponding source code to its TV! (And rejecting 2 other arguments on procedural grounds). Arguments will happen today to see if the judge makes her tentative ruling final!

https://sfconservancy.org/news/2025/dec/04/tentative-vizio-ruling-in-favor-of-sfc/

Judge Issues Tentative Ruling in Favor of SFC

Today, in the Superior Court of California in Orange County, Judge Sandy N. Leal will consider Software Freedom Conservancy's motion for summary adjudication in the Vizio case. The tentative ruling, issued this morning, rules in favor of SFC that Vizio has a duty to provide SFC with the complete and corresponding copylefted source code to the TV it purchased. Tentative rulings are not final; they are issued by the court to indicate how the judge is leaning on the issue, so that oral arguments at the hearing are most effective. The hearing on this issue will take place today, at 10am Pacific time. Information on how to attend is below.

Software Freedom Conservancy

Karen Sandler Dec 4

Software Freedom Conservancy Dec 4

Breaking news: the tentative ruling for today's #Vizio hearing just came out in favor of SFC's summary adjudication motion! This isn't a final ruling, but indicates how the judge is leaning in advance of the hearing. The hearing will begin at 10am pacific and will likely begin with other cases scheduled to be heard today.

https://www.occourts.org/sites/default/files/oc/default/tentative-rulings/slealrulings.pdf

Karen Sandler Dec 3

Christine Lemmer-Webber Dec 2

For this #GivingTuesday I'm going to make the (biased) argument for why you might consider donating to @spritely, especially if you care about a healthier future for the internet! https://spritely.institute/donate/

Here's a little thread explaining more... 🧵

People are talking about the Vizio suit!

Support Conservancy!

Judge Issues Tentative Ruling in Favor of SFC

Support Spritely! — Spritely Institute