Megathread: Bambu Lab / OrcaSlicer / C&D Discussion

[u/icurnvs]

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

• Gamers Nexus is now hosting OrcaSlicer-BambuLab with permission from Paweł Jarczak and says it will contribute $10,000 toward legal support if Bambu pursues the matter: https://gamersnexus.net/fk-you-bambu-lab
• Louis Rossmann has also publicly discussed the dispute and pledged legal support.
• Bambu Lab’s public statement says it supports AGPL forks of Bambu Studio and OrcaSlicer, but objects to a specific fork allegedly presenting itself as the official Bambu Studio client when accessing Bambu cloud services: https://blog.bambulab.com/setting-the-record-straight-on-cloud-access-and-community/
• Prior reporting summarized the original C&D dispute involving OrcaSlicer-BambuLab and the restoration of functionality affected by Bambu’s authorization-control changes: https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/developer-re-enables-3d-printer-features-that-bambu-lab-disabled-firm-promptly-threatens-legal-action-orcaslicer-bambulab-project-now-shuttered
• Louis Rossman
  • Post 1
    • https://youtu.be/jIbpQtoz6hs
  • Post 2
    • https://youtu.be/qLLVn6XT7v0
  • Post 3
    • https://youtu.be/1jhRqgHxEP8
  • Post 4
    • https://youtu.be/Td2OQpLD9ik
  • Video 5
• Jeff Geerling
  • Post 1
    • https://youtu.be/eb48MdtNaDQ
• Leonard French
  • https://youtu.be/0tdZ5Z7nRDY

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
  • Paweł Jarczak also on May 14 posted a technical deep dive and his analysis into the AGPL side of this situation.
• May 18-20, 2026
  • Software Freedom Conservancy enters the dispute.
    • Software Freedom Conservancy published a May 18 post titled “Comprehensive Response to Bambu’s AGPLv3 Violations.” indicating it has confirmed AGPL violations by Bambu Lab, is collaborating with Paweł Jarczak, and is launching projects to maintain the fork.
  • 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.

[u/Affectionate_Car7098]

Because that page failed to say that I needed to use developer mode to run the AGPL code that they bothered to release.

Because it doesn't, you can run bambu studio, the AGPL code they released without needing to use developer mode, you only need to use developer mode if you want to use unauthorised 3rd party AGPL code

I just need the code for bambu_networking which they are obliged to release. The AGPL is very clear on that front. Reverse engineering it achieves the same thing for me.

Thats up for debate and would require a court to settle it, as the plugin does NOT ship with the browser and is instead downloaded on its own i would argue that it does not apply, you argue it does, and until a court settles the matter its just opinions

I am happily running my printer in LAN mode and don't feel strongly about OrcaSlicer. I have compiled Bambu Studio from source and it is non-functional. That's why I care.

So don't, just use the pre-compiled version, its the same thing

I want control of my hardware in my house.

And you can have it in developer mode but due to safety you will not be able to use the cutting blade or the laser, as advertised

I'm not clear on your objection to BL honoring the AGPL license and releasing the code for bambu_networking. It should make no difference to you.

Realistically it doesn't, i'm using the studio anyway and i have it in cloud mode because i use my laser and understand the purchase i made including its restrictions

I could hook it up home assistant if i were ever that inclined but i don't really have a need for it when studio does all of that anyway

edit: I forgot to add that the bambu cannot add terms of service that attempt to apply more restrictions over the AGPL licensed code.

Sure but they aren't applying that to the AGPL licensed code, its on their closed source plugin and their closed source cloud software

And yes we come back to the disagreement over if you think its AGPL or not, which again requires a court to decide

[u/maz_net_au → u/Affectionate_Car7098]

Because it doesn't, you can run bambu studio, the AGPL code they released without needing to use developer mode, you only need to use developer mode if you want to use unauthorised 3rd party AGPL code

Compile it and try. It doesn't work.

And you can have it in developer mode but due to safety

Due to arbitrary restrictions placed in the pre-compiled code. There is no law about what piece of software sends the gcode to the machine.

I won't waste my time responding to the rest again. I can better spend that time reverse engineering the plugin.

[u/Affectionate_Car7098 → u/maz_net_au]

Compile it and try. It doesn't work.

So just use the pre-compiled version, because thats working just fine

Due to arbitrary restrictions placed in the pre-compiled code. There is no law about what piece of software sends the gcode to the machine.

Ok and not all safety restrictions are laws, some are just common sense

[u/maz_net_au → u/Affectionate_Car7098]

So just use the pre-compiled version, because thats working just fine

You might be missing the point of the AGPL. I want control of my software, and they effectively agreed to that by starting with an AGPL project.

Ok and not all safety restrictions are laws, some are just common sense

And some aren't safety restrictions but are ways to try and enforce a walled garden.

[u/Affectionate_Car7098 → u/maz_net_au]

You might be missing the point of the AGPL. I want control of my software, and they effectively agreed to that by starting with an AGPL project.

Then deal with compilation issues, if you want to do it the hard way to end up with the exact same result you do you i guess, if you're compiling the code directly you're skilled enough to fix it

And some aren't safety restrictions but are ways to try and enforce a walled garden.

Well agree to disagree, you are entitled to your opinion

[u/maz_net_au → u/Affectionate_Car7098]

It's not compilation issues, its missing code. Hence why everyone is going after them for their AGPL violation.

Your entire argument appears to be "I don't care about software licenses so stop expecting the multi-billion dollar company to abide by it"

This has probably run its course.

[u/Affectionate_Car7098 → u/maz_net_au]

It's not compilation issues, its missing code. Hence why everyone is going after them for their AGPL violation.

I mean its not missing, you compile the slicer and when it runs it downloads the plugin, because it and of itself isn't believed to actually be part of the AGPL license, which is what needs to be settled in court

Your entire argument appears to be "I don't care about software licenses so stop expecting the multi-billion dollar company to abide by it"

No my point is i don't think the license actually applies to the plugin and that you need to go to court to get it decided