Judge hints Vizio TV buyers may have rights to source code licensed under GPL

Steven

Judge hints Vizio TV buyers may have rights to source code licensed under GPL

Summary

A California Superior Court judge issued a tentative ruling that could require electronics maker Vizio to provide the complete and corresponding source code for its SmartCast TV software. The Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) alleges SmartCast incorporates components licensed under GPLv2 and LGPLv2.1 (including the Linux kernel, BusyBox and other utilities) and that Vizio’s prior responses to requests for source code were incomplete.

The tentative ruling indicates the court may grant SFC’s motion for summary adjudication in part, finding a direct contract was formed when an SFC representative requested the source code for a TV the group purchased. The ruling is not final; the judge has taken the matter under submission and is expected to issue a written opinion in the coming weeks.

Key Points

  • The SFC sued Vizio in October 2021 after unsuccessful requests for complete source code for SmartCast.
  • Judge Sandy Leal’s tentative ruling supports SFC’s argument that a contract was created when the SFC requested source for a purchased TV, potentially obliging Vizio to provide the complete corresponding source code.
  • SFC claims SmartCast relies on GPLv2 and LGPLv2.1 components such as the Linux kernel, alsa-utils, GNU bash, BusyBox, bluez and others.
  • Vizio previously provided incomplete code, according to SFC; Vizio’s counsel disagreed with the tentative ruling at the hearing.
  • The decision, if final, would be a notable win for copyleft enforcement and could set a precedent for consumer rights to request source on GPL-licensed device software.
  • This follows other recent licensing enforcement activity in 2025, including a successful LGPL action in Germany against AVM, indicating growing legal traction for FOSS licence claims.

Why should I read this?

Because if you own a Smart TV, build devices, ship embedded Linux, or care about open-source fairness, this could change how vendors handle GPL obligations. Short version: it might actually make manufacturers hand over the source they owe — and that matters for security, customisation and patching. Worth five minutes of your time.

Author style

Punchy: this is potentially a big deal. A court nudging enforcement in favour of the SFC could force manufacturers to take licence compliance seriously — or face more lawsuits. If you’re on the legal, security or engineering side of device software, read the full ruling when it lands.

Context and Relevance

The tentative ruling sits in a wider trend of stronger copyleft enforcement and consumer-rights claims around embedded device software. Recent successes in Europe, rising scrutiny of supply chains, and the security benefits of accessible source make outcomes like this important beyond a single company. A final decision could influence manufacturers’ compliance processes, vendor contracts, and how communities hold companies to open-source licence terms.

Source

Source: https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/12/05/vizio_gpl_source_code_ruling/