Software Freedom Conservancy

Software Freedom Conservancy | @conservancy@social.sfconservancy.org

Software Freedom Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) public charity that acts as a non-profit home for Free, Libre, and Open Source Software projects.

https://sfconservancy.org

In just the last week, we've argued in court for the #GPL and got rolling on the next #Outreachy round, in addition to all of the other work we do!

Please donate to #SFC and help us make our match challenge:

https://sfconservancy.org/sustainer/

And remember, you're our marketing department, so please help us spread the word!

After our hearing last week in the Vizio case, Christine Hall has a great write up in FOSS Force. You can read it here:

https://fossforce.com/2025/12/judge-signals-win-for-software-freedom-conservancy-in-vizio-gpl-case/

#FOSS #Copyleft

Just over a week in and we've already raised over $12,000! Thanks to all of you who are renewing your Sustainerships and helping us meet our match challenge.

Your support yesterday during the Vizio hearing was also so great to see. If you like the work we are doing, you can support copyleft compliance efforts like that and much more by donating or becoming a Sustaining member:

https://sfconservancy.org/sustainer/

The summary adjudication hearing in Vizio 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/

You can join via the browser (though it's sadly Zoom):
https://occourtsapp.occourts.org/aci/checkin-results?dept=C33">;

Please note that the Judge has previously required virtual attendees to enable their cameras and may ask them to identify themselves.

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

It's #GivingTuesday! Please include Software Freedom Conservancy in your giving today.

Our historic impact litigation against Vizio - a case where we seek to confirm rights for users and customers under #GPLv2 - goes to trial in just 35 days!

Support this & our other work now at https://sfconservancy.org/sustainer/.

Today Software Freedom Conservancy is launching our biggest fundraiser match challenge yet! With a whopping $211,927 from our generous matchers, every dollar you donate until January 15th 2026 will be doubled! This has been a huge year for us and we're so thankful to all the individuals who help sustain our organization.

You can become a sustainer and read more about what we've been up to here:

https://sfconservancy.org/sustainer/#YearInReview

In one hour, there will be a hearing in the VIzio law suit!

It's about a motion VIzio made, asking the court to rule (without any discussion at trial) that there is no installation right in . The "tentative" ruling published this morning denies VIzio's request! The parties will discuss further at the hearing to see if the tentative becomes final.

If you're comfortable using proprietary software (zoom via browser), you can watch:

https://occourtsapp.occourts.org/aci/checkin-results?dept=C33

Big hearing today in case re: their violations of .

Vizio requested summary adjudication, arguing users have no right to install their own software onto their devices.Judge has already tentatively DENIED their motion: https://www.occourts.org/sites/default/files/oc/default/tentative-rulings/slealrulings.pdf

The hearing to determine if her tentative ruling is official occurs in 2 hours (10:00 US/Pacific). You can watch¹:
https://occourtsapp.occourts.org/aci/checkin-results?dept=C33

¹ This requires proprietary software, but Zoom for Government terms are less onerous than standard terms.

@karen just keynoted at #SFSCON in Bolzano, Italy. You can find her speaking on local (German) news station in this video: https://on.orf.at/video/14298541/suedtirol-heute-vom-07112025 (segment begins at 3:56)

https://sfc.ngo/diabetes, is an article I wrote last night to coincide with my colleague, @karen's excellent keynote¹ 2025 earlier this morning.

This year I faced an eerily similar medical experience to her story. I now wear a proprietary medical device, but fortunately control it fully w/ .

I was angry though not surprised that (a $200+ billion company) worked with to attempt to take out of Google's store last year.

Juggluco won & it's back for patients!

Director of Compliance Denver Gingerich has recently worked with the @FuluFoundation to announce the bounty program for continuing the Right to (Software) Repair for GPL devices. Denver noted that “Nest chose to use software with a built-in right to repair in its thermostats. But they took those rights away when they locked down the Nest devices and failed to provide the complete source code for Linux"

Read more here: https://fulu-foundation.ghost.io/repair-bounty-program/

@karen keynoted this years #PGConfEU25 and here she is posing with the famous elephant 🐘 If you are around at the conference be sure to say hi!

After a slight hiccup, the BBB link now be working! See you all soon!

https://bbb.sfconservancy.org/b/den-i3x-a5u-vkq

@kingrat @fdroidorg We're working on getting the link back. If it's not back in a bit, we'll provide an alternative!

Join us in ~30 minutes on BigBlueButton for the Q&A regarding sideloading on Android. Come learn about @fdroidorg and hear from our Director of Compliance about what's to come in the future of running your own software on Android.

Friday, Sep 5 (2025), at 15:00 UTC (08:00 US/Pacific, 11:00 US/Eastern, 17:00 CEST)

https://bbb.sfconservancy.org/b/den-i3x-a5u-vkq

With the recent changes announced restricting software installation on Android, @conservancy wants to make sure people know about how to install the software of their choice on their devices. Join us tomorrow for a Q&A with SFC's Director of Compliance to better understand how these changes affect Android and how you can have the final say on what does and doesn't run on your phone.

Join us on BigBlueButton tomorrow Friday September 5th at 15:00 UTC (08:00 US/Pacific, 11:00 US/Eastern, 17:00 CEST)


https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2025/sep/3/sfc-qa-on-how-to-keep-your-sideloading/

Worried about the future of installing your own software on your Android device? @conservancy is hosting a Q&A to update you about sideloading software as well as other tips about how to ensure your phone runs the software you want, without any artificial restrictions. Join us on BigBlueButton this Friday September 5th at 15:00 UTC (08:00 US/Pacific, 11:00 US/Eastern, 17:00 CEST)

https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2025/sep/3/sfc-qa-on-how-to-keep-your-sideloading/

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