Tivoization

Encyclopedia : T : TI : TIV : Tivoization

Tivoization is the use of free software in environments that defeat the purpose of free software.

This word came about because TiVo's use of Linux has made it difficult to extend and improve the Linux software used in a TiVo box.

The word was coined by Richard Stallman, the founder of the Free Software Movement, the GNU Project, and the Free Software Foundation.

Because Tivo's software incorporates code licensed under the GPL, TiVo is required to release the associated source code. One of the goals of this requirement is to allow others to modify the software to better suit thier purposes (Stallman's "Freedom 1"). However, Tivo circumvented this goal by making their program only run it includes a "signature" which can only be generated by TiVo. Thus, while you have the right to modify the software, the modified software will not run on TiVo's hardware.

GPL Version 3 is currently under development. One of it's goals is to avoid Tivoization.

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