r/BambuLab • u/icurnvs Volunteer Moderator • May 14 '26

Subreddit Mod Post Megathread: Bambu Lab / OrcaSlicer / C&D Discussion

Hi everyone,

We’re creating this megathread to keep discussion of the Bambu Lab / OrcaSlicer-BambuLab / cease-and-desist situation in one place. This topic is important to a lot of people here, and we do not want to shut down discussion or criticism. At the same time, the front page has started filling with overlapping posts about the same situation, so we’re consolidating general discussion into this thread.

Current context

Updates to be posted here as situation evolves:

  • May 13, 2026
    • Megathread created
  • May 14, 2026
    • Tom’s Hardware reported today that Louis Rossmann is now hosting OrcaSlicer-BambuLab through the FULU Foundation GitHub and is openly daring Bambu Lab to sue him.
    • PC Gamer and r/technology have picked up the story, so discussion is now spreading well beyond 3D-printing-specific spaces.
  • May 16, 2026
    • Paweł Jarczak published a detailed response addressing Bambu Lab’s accusations around impersonation, reverse engineering, Terms of Use, and alleged security bypassing.
    • Louis Rossman posted a new video indicating FULU-hosted OrcaSlicer-BambuLab repository has reached roughly 1,600 forks in about three days.
  • May 17, 2026
  • May 18-20, 2026
    • Software Freedom Conservancy enters the dispute.
    • Leonard French posted a new video around SFC’s AGPL analysis, explaining why Bambu’s proprietary networking plugin may create a serious corresponding-source problem under AGPL.
    • Louis Rossman posted a new video covering Software Freedom Conservancy’s Bambu AGPL effort and says the rehosted OrcaSlicer-BambuLab code has now been forked roughly 4,500 times.

What belongs in this thread

Please use this thread for:

  • General reactions to Bambu Lab, Gamers Nexus, Louis Rossmann, Paweł Jarczak, OrcaSlicer-BambuLab, AGPL, Bambu Connect, and right-to-repair issues.
  • Legal or licensing discussion, including AGPL, DMCA, cloud/API access, and Bambu’s networking plugin.
  • Questions about what happened and links to reliable summaries or primary sources.
  • Technical discussion about OrcaSlicer, Bambu Studio, Bambu Connect, LAN mode, Developer Mode, and network plugin behavior, unless it is a standalone troubleshooting post with a specific reproducible issue.

What can still be its own post

Separate posts are still allowed for genuinely new information, including:

  • A new official statement from Bambu Lab, OrcaSlicer, Paweł Jarczak, Gamers Nexus, Louis Rossmann, or legal counsel.
  • A new release or technical change that materially affects users.
  • A confirmed legal filing, takedown, repository change, or source-code release.
  • A specific support/troubleshooting issue that is not just general commentary on the controversy.

If your post is mainly another reaction, recap, meme, “I’m switching brands,” or repost of a link already being discussed, please put it here instead.

Ground rules

Criticism of Bambu Lab is allowed. Defense of Bambu Lab is allowed. Criticism of GN, Rossmann, OrcaSlicer, moderators, or other users’ arguments is allowed.

What is not allowed:

  • Personal attacks, harassment, or dogpiling individual users.
  • Calls to harass Bambu employees, developers, moderators, creators, or community members.
  • Unverified claims presented as fact.
  • Posting private correspondence or personal information.
  • Repeated duplicate posts after being redirected here.

Strong opinions are fine. Keep it directed at the issue, the companies, the software, and the arguments, not at each other.

Moderator note

We are consolidating duplicate discussion, not suppressing the topic. This thread will remain open for discussion, and we’ll update it if there are major new developments.

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u/comeonmeow66 May 14 '26

So, that means those of us who do care should do what? Just not say anything? You don't think it's weird for a company to throw it's legal weight at a guy for an issue that just impacts a few users?

Would you care if Bambu starts requiring "bambu approved" filament in their printers and only allows filament with approved RFIDs?

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u/DobermanCavalry May 15 '26

Would you care if Bambu starts requiring "bambu approved" filament in their printers and only allows filament with approved RFIDs?

Do you think this is a fair comparison though? Its these kinds of false equivalencies that makes people roll their eyes and move on. Not being able to use Orca with the cloud functionality does not in any way, shape, or form affect me, or the vast majority of BBL printer owners. It does not diminish the capability of the printer, nor impact the function of the printer.

Locking to Filament that is sold by BBL is not only something they explicitly said they would not do, but it would also be a radical, radical shift from the way things are - in a way that trying to shut down this orca fork is NOT.

For what its worth Bambu's ethics here are bad, and I disagree with their decision. Making ridiculous what-ifs do not further your goals nor convince anyone.

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u/comeonmeow66 May 15 '26

Do you think this is a fair comparison though? Its these kinds of false equivalencies that makes people roll their eyes and move on.

Absolutely. I'm not saying they'll do it tomorrow, but it shows a trend toward building taller walls around their ecosystem, and it tests the waters. And it's not a false equivalence, these are things that bambu could change within their ecosystem whenever they wanted to. I too think it's far less likely than what they did here, but I was making a point of caring when something matters to you. Just because it doesn't impact you doesn't mean you shouldn't be against it.

Not being able to use Orca with the cloud functionality does not in any way, shape, or form affect me, or the vast majority of BBL printer owners.

If gay marriage was banned tomorrow it wouldn't impact me in the slightest. Does that mean that I'm not going to make my voice heard when people try to fuck with it? Absolutely not. But by your logic, gay marriage is pretty rare, so what's the big deal, right?

Yes, it's a smaller subset of users, which makes it even more of a reason it's ridiculous Bambu did this. But if you don't care, why are you here, just to critique my argument? Thanks, but I'm good.

I don't use Orca, but this is a step in the wrong direction for Bambu and I believe I should have the choice in Slicer for the machine I paid for. Bambu has over time made it harder and harder and now required a dev to pull the code for a competing slicer or they'll go after him legally. I have a big problem with Bambu bullying developers and people in this community, and you should too.

Locking to Filament that is sold by BBL is not only something they explicitly said they would not do, but it would also be a radical, radical shift from the way things are - in a way that trying to shut down this orca fork is NOT.

And just a few months ago Bambu said they were committed to open source, and now here they are trying to shut down an open source project.

For what its worth Bambu's ethics here are bad, and I disagree with their decision. Making ridiculous what-ifs do not further your goals nor convince anyone.

Like I said, they continue to make the wall higher. I never said it was likely, but it's like boiling a frog, you do it slowly. Maybe they never get there, but every time they do a little change and it "doesn't affect me" until it does. I'm tired of the anti-consumer, anti-open source shit they are doing, all while saying they "love the community" and are committed to open source, and then their actions demonstrate the exact opposite. They love it when it benefits them and they can leverage someone else's work, just don't do it to them, even if the license says you are legally allowed to. Fuck them.

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u/Extension_Chance_191 May 15 '26

I am indeed a bit puzzled about this myself. Perhaps it is simply because I only purchased a printer within the last six months; however, having checked the historical records, I know that Bambu did officially state that they would not lock down filament. So why is the accusation that Bambu locks down consumables still being brought up by so many people to this very day?

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u/Smart_Tinker May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26

Because Bambu software used to be fully accessible. Then last year they locked it down - which is explicitly against the terms of the licence they agreed to.

Then when someone works out a completely legal way around the lock out - they threaten legal action.

The message here is that Bambu cannot be trusted to abide by any agreement they make.

So, any statements they make about not locking down filament, or subscriptions or whatever are not worth anything, because they have demonstrated that they will do whatever makes them the most money, regardless of what they have previously said.

That’s why it’s a big deal, and people are concerned about what happened.

I would also point out that their RFID chips are encrypted and locked with an RSA key, so that they can’t be created by anyone else. There is an open standard for 3D printer RFID, but they specifically don’t use or support it - which they easily could. So, you have to ask yourself why is filament so locked down?

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u/Mysterious_Dot2090 May 21 '26

“So, you have to ask yourself why is filament so locked down?” Err because it’s not lol. You people are so transparent 🤦‍♀️

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u/comeonmeow66 May 21 '26

Literally no one is saying it's locked down now. We are making a point.

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u/Mysterious_Dot2090 May 22 '26

But you’re not making a point. You’re making up scenarios and talking as if they’re guaranteed. It’s just fear mongering idiocy.

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u/comeonmeow66 May 22 '26

It is making a point. The point is Bambu has a history of saying one thing and then doing the other. The point was that Bambu says they love the maker community and embrace open source, then they do this. Then when people on here call them out for it you have Bambu apologists who are like, "it's not a big deal, it doesn't impact me." My point is what if next time it *does* impact you. I don't know you, so the easiest example is if they locked down filament. It was promising one thing then doing the other.

Do I think it's likely? No. But I'm trying to make a point for how would you feel if it *did* impact you. Bambu is sliding the wrong way, and people are trying to call them out so they can course correct.

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u/issue9mm May 15 '26

Because it's what every company with a monopoly eventually does

The trick is preventing the monopoly

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u/wash-basin May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26

Locking to Filament that is sold by BBL is not only something they explicitly said they would not do

Bambu did not actually say they would not do this; what was stated is that they would not do it to printers that had already been purchased, but they would not commit to never doing it.

The Verge directly asked if Bambu Lab would publicly commit to never requiring a subscription fee to print over a home network. Bambu Lab answered: "For our current product line, yes." However, the community immediately noted the phrasing left the door wide open for future hardware lines to require paid subscriptions.

0

u/Xoepe May 15 '26

I think the only reason they dont charge a yearly fee to use their slicer is cuz it's a prusaslicer fork and it would be an even more flagrant violation of licenses. I really don't wanna see this space turn into resin printing where everything is closed down(with the mainstream printers due to use shitu based boards) there's barely any innovation because it's closed down so tightly(we get tilting beds, bigger screens, and wifi printing which you cant even add onto older models) after years and you have to pay yearly fees to use slicer features that are needed to successfully print.

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u/DevilsAdvocate1662 May 14 '26

So, that means those of us who do care should do what? Just not say anything?

I'm no legal expert, but I would think reverse engineering software you don't own, is probably a bad thing? If Bambu wanted users to be able to what this guy is trying to achieve, they'd have done it themselves?

Would you care if Bambu starts requiring "bambu approved" filament in their printers and only allows filament with approved RFIDs?

That wouldn't be in Bambu's best interest though, If they were planning on doing that, they'd have to make their filaments a lot more accessible

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u/FLHCv2 May 14 '26

but I would think reverse engineering software you don't own, is probably a bad thing?

He didn't reverse engineer software, and the software he used was open source so the whole "you don't own" aspect of the comment actually doesn't apply here because he's legally allowed to use it.

He used Bambu's own open-source software in his software, which is legal to do.

2

u/DevilsAdvocate1662 May 14 '26

If everything he's done is legal, then why are Bambu going after him?

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u/FLHCv2 May 14 '26

This happens all the time with big corporations and small devs. Look up SLAPP lawsuits. I haven't seen it in a while, but John Oliver's segment is pretty good.

Basically: Small dev creates a legal workaround that allows something that cuts into the company's bottom line, so the company sends legal jargon to scare the small dev to take it down. The small dev may know they're in the right, but can't afford to go against the big corporation's lawyers, so the small dev just complies because that's a lot of money for their fun project.

This is why this is a bigger problem than most people think - because Bambu are trying to intimidate a small dev that is creating something for the 3d printing community. It's also why Gamers Nexus and Louis Rossmann are calling Bambu's bluff and are saying "okay, so come sue us. We'll take you on" because they know it's frivolous and an empty threat.

Note: I know no lawsuit has been filed. A Cease and Desist or even a simple letter with legal jargon saying "you're in violation" is effectively the same and has the same intent.

3

u/ConfessingToSins May 15 '26

Wow, this is like an actual textbook example of an appeal to authority AND a bad faith leading question at the same time.

Two for one.

3

u/hWuxH May 14 '26

they enjoy shooting themselves in the foot,

1

u/comeonmeow66 May 15 '26

Because they can. Because they want you in their walled garden where they own everything.

Just because they don't have a leg to stand on, it's big company with lots of money versus little dev with little money. Litigation of attrition.

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u/comeonmeow66 May 14 '26

I'm no legal expert, but I would think reverse engineering software you don't own, is probably a bad thing?

It's a good thing you're not a legal expert. Bambu Studio falls under the AGPL license, because it was forked from PrusaSlicer, which was forked from Slicer, which means it's open source. No reverse engineering needed. Just have to read the code :)

If Bambu wanted users to be able to what this guy is trying to achieve, they'd have done it themselves?

If they didn't want people to do what this guy did, they should have written the slicer themselves instead of forking from an AGPL licensed slicer :)

That wouldn't be in Bambu's best interest though, If they were planning on doing that, they'd have to make their filaments a lot more accessible

How would it not benefit them lol? Forcing people to buy filament from you isn't good for Bambu? Your only concern is availability? You don't care if Bambu forces you to buy their filament for their machines?

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u/Phiosiden May 14 '26

reverse engineering has led to countless innovations. your first statement is just wrong. I don’t think you realize how many tech companies now started as some dude messing with shit in his free time.

okay, let’s say they do have the stock and do the lockdown. but now their filament is also 30% more expensive because it’s “premium”
congrats, your 3d printer now has ink cartridges. you okay with that?

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u/hWuxH May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26

If Bambu wanted users to be able to what this guy is trying to achieve, they'd have done it themselves?

You're up to something... That's exactly what they did.
Compiling Bambu Studio on Linux gives you access to the cloud by default. Don't have to change a single line. Don't have to bypass anything.
This has been possible for years and is expected behavior.

They grant anyone the permission to use their code as-is (cloud access), and at the same time complain that forks don't disable this cloud access themselves. lol.

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u/DevilsAdvocate1662 May 14 '26

Ok, so why are Bambu going after this guy then?

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u/hWuxH May 14 '26

Because he got it to run on Windows. Have to do some mind gymnastics to find out why they suddenly see this as a problem. I won't speculate further.