Owners of Roku TVs and streaming players are expressing their outrage after Roku disabled their devices unless they agree to new 'dispute resolution terms'.

The new terms apparently took effect on February 20, 2024, and users began receiving notifications on their Roku TVs or streaming players this week, according to a report by TechCrunch.

There is a lengthy thread on the Roku community board discussing the issue, which can be found here.

The terms include a forced arbitration clause that prohibits owners from suing or participating in a lawsuit against Roku. While such clauses are common, in Roku's case owners' TVs and streaming players are effectively disabled unless they agree to the terms, as illustrated in the photo by 9to5Google below.


 The message that Roku owners are seeing on their Roku TV or streamer. Photo: 9to5Google

- "We've updated our Dispute Resolution Terms. Select 'Agree' to agree to these updated Terms and to continue enjoying our products and services," reads the notification box, which only lets users read the terms and agree, without any option to disagree or otherwise remove the notification box.

The only way to opt out of the new terms is to send a physical letter by snail mail within 30 days to Roku's Roku General Counsel in San Jose, as described by TechCrunch here. Taking this step will allow you to participate in any potential future class-action lawsuit over the ploy.

- "Like many companies, Roku updates its terms of service from time to time. When we do, we take steps to make sure customers are informed of the change," Roku said in a public statement.


You are the product
The situation is prompting owners to question not only their decision to use Roku devices but also whether they truly own the Roku device they have paid for.

Roku is refusing to refund customers.

- "(R)oku is implementing a revised terms of service agreement. If you don't agree to it, your device is rendered inoperative. When I asked for my money back, since they made the device inoperative they refused. How do you feel about this?," wrote mikemmm on the Roku community board.

While Roku devices are not free, the combination of this move and the increasing amount of personalized ads on Roku certainly gives support to the old adage that "you are the product" when using a Roku device.

- Source: TechCrunch, 9to5Google, Roku community board