Roku and TCL Hit with Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Defective Roku TV Software Updates That Brick Smart Televisions

Key Points:

• A federal class action lawsuit filed in California accuses Roku Inc. and TCL North America of selling smart TVs that become unusable after automatic software updates cause system crashes, black screens, and loss of functionality.
• The suit, led by plaintiff Terri Else, targets Roku-powered models including Roku Select and Plus Series, as well as TCL 3-Series through 6-Series TVs, alleging the updates were rushed without adequate testing and resulted in widespread defects.
• Plaintiffs claim the companies violated California’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act by continuing to sell defective products without proper warnings or fixes, despite consumer complaints and express warranties.
• The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to fix the defects, monetary damages, restitution for the full purchase price, and requests a jury trial, potentially affecting thousands of consumers nationwide who purchased affected models since December 16, 2024.
• The case highlights broader concerns about software quality control in smart home electronics, where frequent updates can render devices inoperable, raising questions about manufacturer accountability in the connected device market.