tivoization

T1I1V4O1I1Z10A1T1I1O1N1
/ˈtiːvəʊ.ɪˌzeɪʃən/

noun

The creation of a system that incorporates software under the terms of a copyleft software license, but uses hardware to prevent users from running modified versions of the software on that hardware.

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Meanings

nountivoization (uncountable)

alternative tivoisation

  1. uncountablecomputingThe creation of a system that incorporates software under the terms of a copyleft software license, but uses hardware to prevent users from running modified versions of the software on that hardware.

Origin

From TiVo + -ization. Coined by Richard Stallman in 2007, in reference to TiVo's use of GNU GPL-licensed software on the TiVo brand digital video recorders.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with tivoization

informationeducationlocationapplicationassociationadministrationorganizationcorporationregistrationAsianfoundationcommunicationpopulationnavigationstationaccommodationoperationpublicationvacationtransportationevaluationimplementationinstallationnation
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

tivoization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tivoization

MLA

“tivoization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tivoization. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tivoization,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tivoization.

Source: tivoization on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.