Could software be a barrier to longer-lasting devices? Plus, Massachusetts starts enforcing expanded auto repair law. And: electronics repair law moves forward in California.
It's undoubtedly the case that software is a threat to our right to repair - and though the EU does seem to be at least aware of the issue in a 'consumer rights' sense (i.e. mandating longer-term support, security updates etc), I do feel like we need a much broader movement to advocate for community control of software: if not by default (my strong personal preference!), then at least when a company decides it no longer wishes to support ageing hardware.
If a company wishes to abandon support for older devices, then I don't believe there are many compelling arguments as to why they should not, in tandem, be required to make the source code powering those devices / hardware publicly available. The 'intellectual property' argument cannot and should not override the freedom of people to use their devices as they wish, in my opinion!
It's undoubtedly the case that software is a threat to our right to repair - and though the EU does seem to be at least aware of the issue in a 'consumer rights' sense (i.e. mandating longer-term support, security updates etc), I do feel like we need a much broader movement to advocate for community control of software: if not by default (my strong personal preference!), then at least when a company decides it no longer wishes to support ageing hardware.
If a company wishes to abandon support for older devices, then I don't believe there are many compelling arguments as to why they should not, in tandem, be required to make the source code powering those devices / hardware publicly available. The 'intellectual property' argument cannot and should not override the freedom of people to use their devices as they wish, in my opinion!