Understanding the Vizio Case: Linux Freedom ∀

Speaker: Bradley Kuhn

Room: CC 235

Time: Sun 10:25 am – 10:55 am

Format: Lecture (30 Min + Q&A)

Difficulty: Introductory

Track: Licensing & Governance

Presenter Location: In-person

Experience: umpteenth time speaking

Description:

In 2021, Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) filed one of the most significant copyleft‑enforcement cases in history. Rather than pursuing a traditional copyright claim, SFC sued Vizio — a major manufacturer of ARM‑based televisions — in Orange County, California, as a third‑party beneficiary to the GPLv2 and LGPLv2.1. The case seeks specific performance, including the complete corresponding source code and the scripts used to control compilation and installation.

This talk explains the status of the case (and possibly the outcome, depending on trial timing), why it matters to every Linux user and every consumer who buys electronic devices, and what comes next for copyleft. As 2026 marks a new era of enforcement, Bradley will walk through how we got here and what the future may hold.

Target Audience:

Activists

Developers

Users