tharts my idea but they aren’t saints either with the GPL violations but, it could be that they need time to clean up code. at least they support GPL/OS
im curious how easy the crealitys are to use
A LOT of the mod community whos managed to dig into that issue comes to this conclusion. That they used gpl code for prototyping and they have yet to clean it all out
I am too. A lot of modders say once its dialed its set and forget compared to the enders
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Send it back. You don’t know if the software already has a phoning-home timer. It might work offline for a while and suddenly you wake up one day that all your print jobs are on-hold until you connect the thing to the internet (unless there’s a way to flash an open firmware on it).
I believe someone was working on a github repo to flash an open firmware on it. But I wouldn’t bet on it.
Someone should get the FSF or the Freedom Conservancy Group to the mix and make them release the code under the GPL terms that they infringed on. I’m pretty sure there’s case laws that if you’re copying someone’s code and then trying to come up with something similar yourself, you’re doing reverse-engineering, which is breaking copyright (which in this case is GPL).
If you were doing the same with proprietary software (seeing the code either obtained from a data breach or a source-available license) then you’d be asked to completely cease-and-desist your project (and probably pay penalties for damages). If you were not actually seeing the code and you were just reverse-engineering functionality “from the outside” (the blackbox method) that would’ve been allowed. But if they outright copy the code, they should have it released under GPL.
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I hate to break to all of ya but almost every corpo under the sun violates gpl daily. That might be a difficult thing to enforce without them making the landmark case back that every corp should suffer the same consequences and if we tried that. Well m8. You wanna break tech over night. That would do it 
Im game to watch though
No s**t! 
Well, there’s the SFC vs Vizio case from 2021. I really hope it creates a precedent (I’m not holding my breath). The case with the 3d-printer makers would be similar (they use GPL code, they must release the entire code under GPL to the users of their devices).
This is disappointing, but I need the quality and reliability of my X1C.
I haven’t turned it on in a few weeks as I was waiting to change the hotend, but I don’t think you can cloud print with outdated firmware. Guess I’ll have to print off the SD card until things resolve
There are shenanigans afoot
https://x.com/Mauker/status/1882140724302692481?t=XLDfuCJqtSTjoYgSdkdXpA&s=19
For those who don’t want to use Twitter
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- Reverse engineering is not breaking copyright.
- What?
- Why would there be any RE with Open Source code?
Also noteworthy:
- Frequently Asked Questions about the GNU Licenses - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
- Frequently Asked Questions about the GNU Licenses - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
There are a lot of misconceptions about GPL out there.
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Read the whole thing. Reverse-engineering in itself (in a blackbox) is not breaking copyright. There’s some case law that if someone reads the code and tries to emulate it, that’s breaking the copyright law.
To get around it, you can have someone read the code and then explain to someone else (without showing the code) what the code does. I doubt creality is going through that process.
What’s “RE” in this context?
Here’s the FSF article about the SFC vs Vizio, due in Sep 2025. It’s a 3-5 min read.
https://www.fsf.org/news/fsf-to-be-deposed-in-sfc-v-vizio-updates-relevant-faq-entry
If the creality 3d printers do have GPL code in them, then the users are entitled to the full source code of the product.
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well the thing is they do release said source code but, they take several months to do it.
Several companies have been successfully sued years ago the last i knew. The vmware law suit is taking years if not decades to go through courts the last i knew.
WHICH THEY DO! it just takes them six months to do, thats kerfuffle something it should be released on day one and GPL statutes don’t specify a time frame, hence the controversy.
i thought they might do that! make it hard or impossible to print off libe with bambu studio because its a “newer” file. meaning you can only print with orca slicer and stl files or something. hopefully poeple move thier stuff off maker world
oh btw i found bambu shill on reddit gas lighitng people
i checked the profile and it’s all pro bambu replies, the ONLY person on reddit not bothered this cloud grab.
EDIT: also there are different open source or source available licenses models out there, be aware of that.
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well i’m attempting to inventory thep akcing, it’s nutz. i’m tempted to vlan it offline and try orca slicer and use it purley offline forever. i’m gonna loose $60 even if ican figured out how to pack it. i’m wahtcing unboxinf videos to see how it’s packed however mine is packed differently than any unobxing video
edit: needed to find an unboxing video of an a1 mini WITH ams
I did a control + F on this article for the word ‘proprietary’. I got a couple hits and now know now to buy from them.
Sounds frustrating. Have you tried rolling back to a previous firmware version or blocking cloud access via your router? Some users have had success limiting dependencies that way.
What are some good alternatives to Bambu? I was looking at the P1S, which seems like great bang for the buck right now. The PrusaONE appears to be the closest comparable, but is also about $500 more, with smaller build volume. Are there other options?
while i can’t really suggest alternatives(based on LACK personal experience with the products), knowing what you are looking for might be able to help someone help you.
an example might be if you are looking to print PLA, it might not be best to suggest a QIDI MAX4. or if you are looking to print Nylon(pa6 or pa12) it might not be best to suggest a SOVOL 6 ace…
edit, i realized i misspoke. i don’t have experience with the products mentioned and just realized that i worded it to say that i did.
There really isn’t anything that can match cost and quality, of Bambu. Prusa being the closest, but as you correctly pointed out they are a lot more expensive.
Sovol printers are ok I’ve heard. It’s not a corexy though. They do have a what is basically a Voron V2.4, but with injection molded parts.
im wanting to go creality k2, way more expensive but, can do carbon fiber which is needed for stuff like og xbox cpu brackets and car parts. creality is also ding the creality Hi, aka bambu A1 clone. while creality takes there time they do release their source code which no one else does except prusa and the likes. if i wait id feel better buying after the source code has dropped. its also enclosed but, reading up you want to crack the door open during TPU and PLA, so much for fume control (all printers and brands)
it has been sent back and now i just need to confirm i got my paypal refund.
Creality K2 plus has not opened source yet but, you can always flash an open source firmware if you want.
I don’t know if anybody watches Network Chuck videos, but I noticed he was doing Bambu ads even after all this stuff came to light. I’m kind of amazed any tech person would support this company after this. There is a tech savvy off grid couple that also promoted Bambu and then apparently censored people in the comments who brought this latest development up. I used to watch them but no longer do.
And there is a larger push to gatekeep 3d printers to make sure they keep us all safe from printing the things we want because we might want to do things they don’t like with the products we thought we purchased for large sums of money.
The Elegoo Centauri Carbon for $299 or the non enclosed Centauri for $199 seem like great starting printers. The Carbon won’t ship until late June and the normal Centauri won’t ship until late July but all reviews on YT make it seem great for the price.