Pass legislation making it illegal for manufacturers to remotely restrict or disable features on products consumers have already purchased. What HP did — pushing a firmware update to brick printers unless owners pay for branded ink — is not a business model. It's extortion. BMW tried charging a monthly fee for heated seats that were physically built into the car. These aren't edge cases; they're a pattern.
The problem spans industries. Ring sells you a camera but holds your footage hostage for $4.99/month. Happiest Baby sells a bassinet that stops rocking your infant unless you keep paying $19.99/month. Tesla locks hardware already installed in your car behind a $99/month subscription. Consumers bought these products in good faith. Corporations are now rewriting the terms after the sale.
The law needs to do three things: require full disclosure of any subscription dependency before purchase, prohibit retroactive firmware or software changes that degrade already-purchased functionality, and protect the right to repair and use third-party components. The Right to Repair movement has laid out a clear framework. The political will just needs to catch up. Make this happen.
First sent on July 31 by States ask for townhalls
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