Bambu Lab has backtracked on its stance regarding AGPLv3 licensing compliance for Bambu Studio software. The Software Freedom Conservancy found that the company bundled a proprietary networking library without releasing the required source code. This action violated the terms of the open-source license governing the slicer application.
SFC found Bambu bundled proprietary networking library without source code release.
The conservancy also identified legal threats directed at solo developer Paweł Jarczak over an OrcaSlicer fork. Bambu Lab initially demanded the removal of the fork and claimed its own terms of service could override AGPLv3 obligations. Public pressure from industry figures and the conservancy prompted the company to retract those claims.
The Software Freedom Conservancy has now launched a project called baltobu to address these licensing issues. The initiative aims to create replacement forks for proprietary networking libraries and maintain dedicated versions of OrcaSlicer and Bambu Studio. The organization successfully met its fundraising goal of 250,007 dollars to hire staff and volunteers for this effort.
Bambu Lab issued a statement expressing regret that its previous communications regarding terms of service appeared as legal threats. The company clarified that creating such an impression was not the intended outcome. The conservancy stated that Bambu's aggressive behavior toward Jarczak served as the final catalyst for launching a broader strategy to improve software repair rights for 3D printer consumers.
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