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2pt_perversion ,

I’d be a fan of a law that companies who drop support of their product would have to release code that lets 3rd parties or users themselves offer alternative support. If you want to fully abandon a product opensource it. If you’re a big company that doesn’t want to do that release a feature for users to self host before you cut ties. I know it’s not a simple thing to do in the current world but if laws mandated it then tech would have no choice but to adapt.

Alphane_Moon OP ,
@Alphane_Moon@lemmy.world avatar

This would be an excellent law/regulation that makes complete sense.

The major companies can most definitely manage this (although they will cry crocodile tears).

toynbee ,

This is essentially the premise of Stop Killing Games but in a different world.

conciselyverbose ,

Effective [some future date], in order to sell any device connected to the Internet (or Bluetooth, or whatever), you must register your entire codebase and all internal documentation with the FTC, and keep it updated, along with any signing keys to lock bootloaders. The day you abandon support, if you haven’t provided everything required for end users to take complete control of their device, your code base and any other IP enters the public domain, and the FTC uses their discretion on release of keys.

It would take new laws, and you’d have to be careful with language and structure to prevent abuse of “third party” code and abuse of corporate structure to try to prevent old devices from being usable, but you could do it.

kayazere ,

I have had a similar idea. Basically some third party that is trusted to be the escrow for all the source code and documentation would basically release it once the company stops supporting it.

shalafi , (edited )

Just because a product went defunct does not mean the entire code base is obsolete to the company.

Suppose I release software that makes a profit for a while, then falls off and starts costing me money, obviously time to retire that thing. However, a ton of code in that original product was a stepping stone for newer projects. I now have two choices.

A) Drop support and give world+dog my code, giving everyone a look into my existing products.

B) Keep losing money on the old project and make up for it by overcharging for my latest work.

That’s a lose-lose proposition.

Your self-hosting solution sounds mighty fair!

Pyr_Pressure ,

Products that change the service they offer after you purchase it should also be eligible for a full refund (plus a % on top for the hassle). Such as offering a service through the product for free at the time of purchase but then moving it being a monthly subscription paywall later on, or just removing the feature completely.

helenslunch ,
@helenslunch@feddit.nl avatar

So if you spent $130k on a Tesla that came with Disney+ and then the CEO has a completely irrelevant spat with Disney and removes it 5 years later, you should be able to return it for a full refund?

If your phone gets a software update and the WiFi and Mobile Data quick-toggle disappears and is replaced by an “internet” toggle 5 years later, does that entitle you to a full refund?

Just trying to see how deep this rabbit hole goes.

phoneymouse ,

Yes

frank ,

For the first example, absolutely. If some execs have a meltdown, it could change future services but anyone who was promised Disney+ on their Tesla with no limit on it should get a fair refund. I understand that there’s a slippery slope argument here, and no– the value of Disney+ in a car isn’t 100% the value of it. But it’s BS that a manchild having an Internet meltdown loses people a service they had and “paid for”

helenslunch ,
@helenslunch@feddit.nl avatar

Just trying to figure out exactly what “changing the service” means.

hddsx ,

“IDK, depends on how many people buy our idea. Would you like a smart hair dryer?”

4am ,

I’d be a fan of a law that requires local control through standardized hardware and software protocols for any devices sold.

And no, I don’t think the standard needs to be codified into law, but I do think it should meet minimum requirements.

TAG ,
@TAG@lemmy.world avatar

It would be a nice gesture, but I will believe those promises of support when they have teeth to them.

What happens if they stop doing it? Do I have to sue them for breach of contract, have to prove actual damages, and settle the class action lawsuit for $5 in store credit?

What happens if the company goes bankrupt or creates a new subsidiary to service the product and the subsidiary folds?

What level of support are they obligated to provide? What issues must be fixed and how promptly?

xavier666 ,

It might provide value to our customers, but does it provide value to our ShArEhOlDeRs?

_sideffect ,

It’s not only that, the issue is that they release updates that slows down the device, and you get so irritated that you buy a new “faster” device

Agret ,

Or they take out 70% of the features it had at launch and make you wonder why you still use the thing anymore.

SuperSaiyanSwag ,

I’m not an IT expert, so I don’t know how feasible this is, but they should have at least two branches of updates. One that is strictly security and the other that are all the bells and whistles. I would love to stick with an old os if it’s not vulnerable to the outside world.

FinishingDutch ,
@FinishingDutch@lemmy.world avatar

It’s really in the tech sector’s best interest to do that anyway. Because as a consumer, I’m now quite hesitant to buy a thing without knowing if it’s going to be properly supported.

We’ve all been burned before. My Sonos webradio lost functionality for a while after some backend streaming service was defunct. They did manage to fix that but it meant installing a new app, new account that sort of thing. It’s annoying- but at least the manufacturer did the right thing to keep it working. I can only imagine how frustrating it would’ve been if the entire thing stopped working with no support…

Basically, that experience is why I’m no longer willing to buy things that wholly depend on outside servers and the like to keep working. There’s too much risk of ending up with an expensive paperweight.

AstralPath ,

New account = new TOS I imagine?

FinishingDutch ,
@FinishingDutch@lemmy.world avatar

Well the new account was for the new streaming service which replaced the old one. And since that’s a different company… different TOS, obviously.

It was mildly annoying, but at least it means I can still use the radio I bought.

scops ,

To clarify, the FTC is being urged to craft this regulation. They have not recently urged for this regulation. Gotta love the English language.

paraphrand ,

Dooo it!

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