Are you glad you’re not relying on meta to read this?
Today, Roku users in the United States will face a choice when they power up their TV or HDMI adapter. They can accept Roku’s new terms of service, which it just launched, or they can turn off the device. A pop-up that appears cannot be suppressed, you can only agree to it, and your device will not be usable until you agree. If you’re watching cable TV or any other source that doesn’t involve Roku, your device may be bricked without accepting the agreement.
The problem isn’t necessarily with the terms, which makes it clearer that you’re being forced to give up any legal recourse in a dispute with Roku and must submit to arbitration; although that has its own problems. The problem is that Roku is preventing you from using the device you paid for and owned, at least in theory. In practical terms, this means that your physical TV is actually a service, and Roku can cancel the service at any time. You should be able to avoid Roku preventing you from using the HDMI input if you completely disconnect the TV from the internet before turning it on and never connect it again, but that defeats the entire purpose of the TV being able to stream media.
The only other way is to send Roku a physical letter with proof of purchase and your account and device details, which must be sent within 30 days of the first time you see the pop-up. Of course, to make sure you get the proper exemption, you should avoid clicking “Accept,” which means you won’t be able to use your device until you hear back from Roku.
Wondering if there are any promotions for Chromecast devices?