17.02.2025 09:57:00
Дата публикации
A court case in Germany has concluded in favor of developer Sebastian Stec against AVM, the manufacturer of FRITZ!Box routers. The court ordered AVM to disclose the source code of the device's operating system and cover Stec's legal expenses.
Stec purchased a FRITZ!Box 4020 router in 2021 and requested the Linux kernel source code and libraries used in FRITZ!OS. AVM provided only partial data, refusing to disclose compilation and installation scripts, which violated GPL and LGPL licenses.
In July 2023, with the support of the Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC), Stec filed a lawsuit. During the proceedings, AVM released the missing information, but the court still ruled that it must pay Stec’s legal costs of €7,500. The company did not appeal.
This case sets an important precedent for user rights to modify device software. The ruling confirms that companies must provide source code and the necessary tools for its compilation.
It marks the first successful legal enforcement of the Lesser General Public License (LGPL) and strengthens the movement for the right to repair.
Representatives of OpenWrt, which develops alternative firmware, stated that AVM still withholds some source code, including kernel drivers. This may continue to violate free software principles.
Stec hopes AVM will make corrections and release the full source code in the future without community pressure.
SFC continues to advocate for legislation supporting users’ right to repair their devices.
With manufacturers increasing control over hardware, activists believe such legal victories are crucial in defending user freedoms and open licenses.
This case reaffirms that GPL and LGPL licenses are legally enforceable, protecting community interests by ensuring software accessibility and modifiability.
(the text translation was done automatically)
Stec purchased a FRITZ!Box 4020 router in 2021 and requested the Linux kernel source code and libraries used in FRITZ!OS. AVM provided only partial data, refusing to disclose compilation and installation scripts, which violated GPL and LGPL licenses.
In July 2023, with the support of the Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC), Stec filed a lawsuit. During the proceedings, AVM released the missing information, but the court still ruled that it must pay Stec’s legal costs of €7,500. The company did not appeal.
This case sets an important precedent for user rights to modify device software. The ruling confirms that companies must provide source code and the necessary tools for its compilation.
It marks the first successful legal enforcement of the Lesser General Public License (LGPL) and strengthens the movement for the right to repair.
Representatives of OpenWrt, which develops alternative firmware, stated that AVM still withholds some source code, including kernel drivers. This may continue to violate free software principles.
Stec hopes AVM will make corrections and release the full source code in the future without community pressure.
SFC continues to advocate for legislation supporting users’ right to repair their devices.
With manufacturers increasing control over hardware, activists believe such legal victories are crucial in defending user freedoms and open licenses.
This case reaffirms that GPL and LGPL licenses are legally enforceable, protecting community interests by ensuring software accessibility and modifiability.
(the text translation was done automatically)
