Class Action Sues Roku, TCL Over Faulty TV Updates

A class action lawsuit filed late last month in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California accuses Roku Inc. and TTE Technology Inc., which operates as TCL North America, of releasing faulty software updates that have rendered numerous smart televisions unusable.

The complaint, brought by Los Angeles resident Terri Else, targets Roku Select Series and Plus Series TVs, as well as TCL 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, and 6 Series models equipped with Roku's operating system. These budget-friendly televisions, popular for their built-in streaming capabilities, allegedly freeze, display black screens, enter boot loops, or fail to power on after automatic updates. Plaintiff Else states her Roku TV developed these issues following a mandatory update, while other owners report similar failures one to two years after purchase, well within the devices' expected lifespan.

According to the lawsuit, the companies marketed the TVs as reliable with promises of performance improvements through regular updates. Warranties assured repairs or fixes for software defects, yet the complaint alleges Roku and TCL knowingly deployed untested updates despite persistent consumer...