[ Thanks to An
Anonymous Reader for this link. ]
“Tivoization is named after the TiVo, the first consumer DVR
which made time-shifted programming the reality that it is today.
The TiVo ran both the Linux kernel and the GNU userland software,
and in accordance with the terms of the GPLv2, released all of the
appropriate code. As far as the GPLv2 was concerned, TiVo was fully
in accordance with the letter of the law.
“But there was a problem. Due to requirements put in place by
the TV networks and content providers, TiVo had to lock down their
hardware so only approved software could run on it. That means no
modifications to the original TiVo OS, and no installing a
different OS on your TiVo device. The FSF believed this to be in
contradiction to the Four Freedoms, claiming that the device had to
allow modified versions of it?s OS to be installed and
distributed.”