Technology

Software Freedom Conservancy details license violations by 3D printer manufacturer Bambu Lab

At the FOSSY 2026 conference, representatives outlined allegations that Bambu Lab violated the AGPLv3 and GPLv2 open-source licenses.

Updated Aug 26, 2026 · 18:22 UTC1 reports

The short version

Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) representatives presented allegations that 3D-printer manufacturer Bambu Lab violated open-source licenses for its Bambu Studio software and Linux firmware.
The speakers alleged that Bambu Lab used dynamic network components, proprietary server calls, and a User-Agent string to bypass AGPLv3 requirements after modifying PrusaSlicer code.
Developer Paweł Jarczak reverse-engineered the network code, resulting in a DMCA takedown notice from Bambu Lab that was honored by GitHub.
The SFC is supporting alternative community efforts, such as the baltobu initiative and OrcaSlicer, rather than immediately pursuing legal action.

SFC representatives Bradley Kühn, Karen Sandler, and Denver Gingerich detailed Bambu Lab's alleged violations of the AGPLv3 and GPLv2 at FOSSY 2026.[Hacker News]
Bambu Lab allegedly shipped Bambu Studio, a modified fork of PrusaSlicer, without providing corresponding source code or an offer to supply it.[Hacker News]
The company reportedly used dynamically loaded shared-library files and a User-Agent key mechanism to route calls to proprietary server-side components.[Hacker News]
Denver Gingerich reported that Bambu Lab failed to provide source code for Buildroot-based Linux components in its 3D printer firmware, violating GPLv2.[Hacker News]
After Paweł Jarczak reverse-engineered the network code, Bambu Lab issued a DMCA takedown notice that GitHub fulfilled.[Hacker News]
Jarczak's code continues to be maintained in OrcaSlicer and mirrored through the SFC's baltobu project.[Hacker News]

Unconfirmed rumors cited during the talk suggested Bambu Lab has connections to the Chinese government.[Hacker News]