[alexarnesen]

I thought copyright in GPLv2 kicks in once someone is linking? I saw Linux Kernel, bash, awk mentioned; but if these were compiled into binary assets without any code from the TV, then isn't Vizio entitled to sell these TVs without disclosing their own source code?

[wmf]

Nobody's asking for Vizio's code, just the modifications to GPL software (e.g. kconfig, non-upstream kernel modules, etc.)

[hyproxia]

No, the GPL always kicks in once you distribute binaries without providing a way to obtain their sources.

[wyldfire]

It's kinda simple for the most part. If you distribute binaries of a GPLd software product, you are obligated to distribute/make available the corresponding sources (and inform recipient that the sources are available). print it on a slip of paper, hide it in an obscure menu item, make it a click through, but something constituting "informing" should happen. It doesn't matter if you made a derivative work of the source code or not. If you ship binaries, you should ship the source too.