this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2024
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[–] [email protected] 296 points 1 day ago (3 children)

This should be a standard requirement for abandoning an internet reliant product (with all IP and internal documentation released and becoming public domain in the event of a bankruptcy, and keys handled by some consumer protection agency capable of facilitating community projects working to unlock them for owners).

But questionable value of the product aside, the fact that they're making the effort to not be assholes and try to do what it takes to give their costumers' products the life they can is better than most, so they deserve credit for that.

[–] [email protected] 83 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Electronic products and software should get a "at least supported until" label on the packaging and legally obligated to keep the servers running until that time.

[–] [email protected] 77 points 1 day ago (4 children)

The company behind this robot is going bankrupt, which is why support ends and they stop working. This law would do nothing in this case because the company seizes to exist.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 23 hours ago

It should be considered an obligation to be met in the bankruptcy process. If they sell the IP for the product the purchaser should have to meet it. Failing that the users should be given the IP rights (opensource would meet this def to me) then.

In just world at least

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

*ceases, a cute voice-to-text error

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

No just a non-native English speaker error in this case

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago
[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago

You can put money and source code in escrow for this exact eventuality.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

seizes to exist.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago

EU citizens can sign EU Citizens' Initiative for this for games.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Only if there's an absolute bare minimum they're allowed to choose of 5-10 years after the last device/software is sold.

And even then, I still think they should be required to unlock devices (and software DRM bullshit/APIs to re-implement server components) to allow people who want to maintain them themselves.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

EU pushed new product liability bill. After it takes effect companies will be responsible for breaking of devices and software.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Seems like a good move but it will also raise the risk of releasing new tech. Startup money will have to include some kind of coverage for that, making it harder to get startup money. Rather than simply impose a liability I would feel better about requiring orphaned IP to be opensourced so interested parties can do exactly what's happening in this case.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Nah, if a company goes bankrupt, their entire software base should just be posted online.

Or sold like their many assets.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

I agree if they simply go away, what they produced should become opensource. Sometimes this involves removing dependencies on proprietary software, which anybody who used the opensourced portion would in turn have to pay to license. So they have to rewrite those parts or make special arrangements. Anyway it's not the slam-dunk you might think. Like after what happens in an action cop movie everybody walks away, but in reality they would spend months or years in court over damages to buildings, passersby getting hurt, etc. Nothing is ever as simple as outsiders think.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

but it will also raise the risk of releasing new tech.

It has FOSS exemption.

Rather than simply impose a liability I would feel better about requiring orphaned IP to be opensourced so interested parties can do exactly what's happening in this case.

In a way it does that.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago

But that's communism!!1!1!!