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

Unfortunately, due to a conflict in the court's schedule, the judge has delayed the #Vizio trial and it will not be starting on Monday. It's disappointing news, but hopefully it will be scheduled soon! We'll keep you all posted as we get more information.

Happy New Years! We're so thankful for all our incredible supporters and cannot wait to fight for even more software freedom this year.

We've got 2 weeks left in our fundraiser and $77,608 to go. Becoming a Sustainer is the best way to support us, small nonprofits like us rely on monthly donors. And by supporting us at $10 a month (or more 😉) you get our limited edition annual tshirt!

https://sfconservancy.org/sustainer/

Dear ,

Thanks for your efforts, both as individuals and as an organization, to support the FLOSS community and also those that don't realize the benefits they get from your work

I appreciate all that I have learned from you over the years`and look forward to future growth directly due to your efforts

Also, thanks for defending FLOSS rights and practices and being willing to do the hard work for the legal challenges

@bkuhn @conservancy @karen @outreachy Hi ! I'm catching up on recent fediverse discussions about the GPL and the right to install modified software. If I buy a device with GPLv2 firmware, does the license require that the manufacturer provide a way to load customized firmware? Often firmware loading will be protected (e.g. cryptographic signature) so I can't run customized firmware on the device even if the source code is available.

Greetings fediverse-ians! We're ( @karen @bkuhn @ossguy and @conservancy ) are here to answer your questions about #SFC, software freedom, @outreachy or any other things you might have on your mind :)

Be sure to tag us and use #SFC !

Today we'll be doing some live Q&As on the Fediverse! Join us at 10am ET (UTC-5) with SFC staff @karen @bkuhn and @ossguy

Use the hashtag #SFC or tag them or us!

What are you up to the next two days?

I ask because there are *three* opportunities to ask me & my colleagues (including @karen & @ossguy
) *anything* in real-time *right here on the & :

$ date -d "Tuesday 30 Dec 2025 10:00 EST"
$ date -d "Tuesday 30 Dec 2025 20:00 EST"
$ date -d "Wednesday 31 Dec 2025 13:00 EST"

Hopefully one of those times is convenient in your timezone.

Get your questions ready!

https://sfconservancy.org/news/2025/dec/28/match-challenge-upped-to-251939/

U-Boot has joined SFC! We're thrilled such a storied and important project has decided to join up with us. Thanks to U-Boot, so many devices are able to have open boot loaders and preserve our digital rights.

https://sfconservancy.org/news/2025/dec/29/u-boot-has-joined-sfc/

Did you know that caused the deaths of seven diabetics this year?

Some of Abbott's continuous glucose monitor (ironically named the 3 Plus) incorrectly reported low blood sugar — a grave & dangerous error for insulin-dependent . I fortunately wasn't injured, but Abbott's refusal to allow public examination the technical details of their devices is tantamount to a cover-up.

More here: https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2025/dec/23/seven-abbott-freestyle-libre-cgm-patients-dead/

We're almost a third of way to go in our fundraising match! Now's a great chance to donate before the end of the year to get your tax benefit :)

There's still a week left to get your employer to match your donation for the end of the year as well!

https://sfconservancy.org/sustainer/

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/

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

We've got a roundup of some of the Vizio related news recently: https://sfconservancy.org/news/2025/dec/17/people-are-talking-about-the-vizio-suit/

And be sure to join us tomorrow for live Q&A with SFC staff about all things Vizio and SFC related! Join us on BigBlueButton at 2025-12-18 23:00:00 UTC and 2025-12-18 23:00:00 UTC!

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

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