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Colorado SB26-090 critical infrastructure exemption

2026-04-06T20:01:00Z

Noewaeda: Fix link to Cisco

{{#seo:
|title=Colorado SB26-090 Critical Infrastructure Exemption - Consumer Rights Wiki
|description=Colorado SB26-090 exempts "critical infrastructure" IT equipment from the state's right to repair law, letting manufacturers self-classify products.
}}

'''Colorado SB26-090''' is a 2026 bill that would exempt "information technology equipment intended for use in critical infrastructure" from Colorado's [[Right to Repair|Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act]] (HB24-1121), a law that eliminated the business-to-business exemptions found in other states' repair laws & deliberately excluded a critical infrastructure carve-out.<ref name="fighttorepair">{{Cite web |url=https://fighttorepair.substack.com/p/colorados-right-to-repair-law-is |title=Colorado's Right to Repair Law Is The Strongest Yet. Here's Why. |publisher=Fight to Repair (Repair Association) |date=2024}}</ref> Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, described Colorado as having "the broadest repair rights in the country."<ref name="wired">{{Cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tech-companies-are-trying-to-neuter-colorados-landmark-right-to-repair-law/ |title=Tech Companies Are Trying to Neuter Colorado's Landmark Right-to-Repair Law |author=Boone Ashworth |publisher=Wired |date=April 2, 2026}}</ref> The bill borrows its definition of "critical infrastructure" from the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), a definition that covers 16 federal sectors including communications, healthcare, food & agriculture, financial services, & information technology.<ref name="cisa">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectors |title=Critical Infrastructure Sectors |publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)}}</ref> It doesn't define "information technology equipment" at all, which Katz said "leaves it up to the manufacturers to determine which items they will need to provide repair tools and parts to owners and independent repairers and which ones they don't."<ref name="wired" />

==Colorado's right to repair laws==

Colorado has passed three right to repair laws in four years, making it one of the most active states in the movement.

In 2022, Colorado passed '''HB22-1031''', protecting the right to repair powered wheelchairs.<ref name="leg-hb22">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1031 |title=HB22-1031: Wheelchair Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> The following year, '''HB23-1011''' made Colorado the first state to pass an agricultural equipment right to repair law.<ref name="leg-hb23">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1011 |title=HB23-1011: Agricultural Equipment Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref><ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

The most consequential was '''HB24-1121''', the Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act. Sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone & Steven Woodrow & Senators Jeff Bridges & Nick Hinrichsen, it passed the House 39-18 & the Senate 21-13.<ref name="leg-hb24">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121 |title=HB24-1121: Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Governor Polis signed it on May 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.<ref name="proskauer">{{Cite web |url=https://www.proskauer.com/blog/colorado-expands-right-to-repair-law |title=Colorado Expands "Right-to-Repair" Law |publisher=Proskauer Rose LLP |date=2024}}</ref> The law requires OEMs of digital electronic equipment manufactured after July 1, 2021 to provide independent repair providers & owners with parts, tools, documentation, & schematics on fair & reasonable terms. "Fair and reasonable" is defined as costs "equivalent to the most favorable costs and terms that the manufacturer offers to an authorized repair provider."<ref name="proskauer" /> The law also bans [[parts pairing]].<ref name="proskauer" />

HB24-1121 already exempts motor vehicles, medical devices (except powered wheelchairs), construction & energy-related equipment, fire alarm systems, safety communications equipment, & internet/video/voice routers.<ref name="proskauer" /> Violations are treated as deceptive trade practices.<ref name="leg-hb24" />

What set HB24-1121 apart from every other state repair law was its scope. Oregon, New York, California, & Minnesota all carved out exemptions for business-to-business equipment from the start.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> Colorado didn't. Enterprise networking hardware, servers, & business infrastructure were all subject to the same repair mandates as consumer phones & laptops.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> Minnesota's law specifically included a "critical infrastructure" exemption; Colorado deliberately excluded one.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> SB26-090 would add back the same type of critical infrastructure carve-out that Colorado excluded when writing HB24-1121.<ref name="fighttorepair" /><ref name="wired" />

iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens described HB24-1121 as Colorado "taking a search-and-destroy approach to repair monopolies."<ref name="fighttorepair" /> The enterprise IT equipment market reaches $50 to $70 billion annually, & companies like Cisco, Oracle, & IBM use restrictive support agreements to force replacement over repair.<ref name="fighttorepair" /> HB24-1121's B2B scope was a direct threat to that revenue model.

==SB26-090: the bill==

SB26-090, titled "Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair," was introduced on February 10, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-090 |title=SB26-090: Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Its sponsors are Senator John Carson (R-30), Senator Marc Snyder (D-12), & Representative Tony Hartsook (R-44), the House Minority Caucus Chair.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

The bill adds a single sentence to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 6-1-1502 & 6-1-1504: "Nothing in this part 15 applies to information technology equipment that is intended for use in critical infrastructure."<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On April 2, 2026, the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole.<ref name="leg-sb090" /><ref name="wired" /> Second reading was scheduled for April 7, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" /> The bill still needs full Senate & House floor votes before taking effect.<ref name="wired" />

==The "critical infrastructure" definition==

The bill defines critical infrastructure as "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters."<ref name="patriot-act">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5195c |title=42 U.S.C. 5195c - Critical infrastructures protection |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}} Subsection (e) defines "critical infrastructure." Originally enacted as Section 1016 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.</ref> This language comes directly from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 & was later incorporated into Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), issued by President Obama in 2013.<ref name="ppd21">{{Cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil |title=Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience |publisher=The White House |date=February 12, 2013}}</ref>

Under PPD-21, CISA designates 16 critical infrastructure sectors: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food & Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare & Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors/Materials/Waste, Transportation Systems, & Water & Wastewater Systems.<ref name="cisa" />

The practical scope of this definition became clear during COVID-19. CISA's "essential critical infrastructure workers" guidance expanded the functional definition to include automotive repair, retail groceries, call centers, & logistics.<ref name="cisa-covid">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/essential_critical_infrastructure_workforce-guidance_v4.1_508.pdf |title=Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce |publisher=CISA |date=August 2020}}</ref> Under SB26-090's logic, a $20 network switch used in a federal office building could be "critical infrastructure." A Dell laptop at the Pentagon. A printer at a hospital. The bill's definition doesn't draw a line between a server running a power grid & a network switch on a desk.

The bill also doesn't define "information technology equipment." Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the [[Repair Association]], testified at the committee hearing: "I can point out at least five problems with the bill as drafted. The definition of critical infrastructure is completely inadequate. The definition that has been proposed in this bill is not even a definition."<ref name="wired" />

===Manufacturer self-classification===

The bill uses the phrase "intended for use in critical infrastructure" but doesn't specify who decides whether a product meets that threshold & doesn't define "information technology equipment."<ref name="wired" />

Nathan Proctor, leader of PIRG's national right to repair campaign, called the framing cynical: "The 'information technology' and 'critical infrastructure' thing is as cynical as you can possibly be about it. It sounds scary to lawmakers, but it just means the internet."<ref name="wired" />

==Industry lobbying==

===Cisco===

[[Cisco]] is the primary corporate backer of SB26-090. iFixit described the company as "the biggest voice in support" of the exemption.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" /> Consumer-grade internet/video/voice routers are already exempt from HB24-1121.<ref name="proskauer" /> SB26-090 would create an additional, broader exemption covering enterprise networking equipment.<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Cisco's Non-Entitlement Policy states that "unauthorized repair voids the Cisco Warranty Entitlement" & that the company "does not offer or provide any replacement or spare parts to third-party service repair businesses."<ref name="cisco-nep">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740959.html |title=Non-Entitlement Policy v2.0 |publisher=Cisco Systems}}</ref> Third-party repairs are listed as "grounds for Cisco to cancel service or warranty support."<ref name="cisco-nep" /> The [[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]] (15 U.S.C. Section 2302(c)) prohibits manufacturers from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of a specific service provider or brand of replacement part.<ref name="mmwa-statute">{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2302 |title=15 U.S.C. 2302 - Rules governing contents of warranties |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School |access-date=2026-04-03}} Subsection (c) prohibits conditioning warranty on use of a specific service provider or brand of replacement part.</ref>

At the committee hearing, a Cisco representative stated: "Cisco supports SB-90. While it appreciates the arguments offered in favor of the right to repair, not all digital technology devices are equal."<ref name="wired" />

===IBM===

IBM is also supporting the bill. An IBM spokesperson told Wired: "IBM supports right-to-repair policies that empower consumers while protecting cybersecurity, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure. Given the critical and often sensitive nature of enterprise-level products, any legislation should be clearly scoped to consumer devices."<ref name="wired" />

===Lobbying registrations===

The Colorado Secretary of State's Online Lobby System lists 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090: 40 supporting, 11 opposing, 15 monitoring, & 2 other.<ref name="sos-lobby-system">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System. 68 lobbying registrations on SB26-090. To verify: go to the Colorado Secretary of State lobby registration search at https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Bill Search," enter "SB26-090" as the bill number, and select the 2025-2026 session. The search returns all registered lobbyists, their clients, and their positions (Supporting, Opposing, Monitoring, etc.). Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:sos-sb26090-all-registrations-p1.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State Online Lobby System search results for SB26-090, page 1 of 4, showing 68 lobbying registrations.]]

'''Twenty of the 40 supporting registrations (50%) come from lobbyists registered under two different clients on the same bill.'''<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> HB Strategies registered eight lobbyists for IBM on February 11, 2026: Erin Goff, Micki Hackenberger, HB Strategies (the firm itself), Carrie Hackenberger, J. Andrew Green & Assoc., Lisa LaBriola, Elizabeth Lo, & Kevin Neimond.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Nineteen days later, on March 2, the same eight registered for the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> That produced 16 registrations from one firm.

[[File:sos-ibm-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for IBM on SB26-090, showing eight lobbyists from HB Strategies registered February 11, 2026.]]

[[File:sos-cospr-chamber-lobbyists.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State lobbying registrations for the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC on SB26-090, showing the same eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered March 2, 2026.]]

Josh Hanfling & Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs registered for both Cisco & the Colorado Technology Association, adding four more duplicate registrations.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Jeffrey Weist & Weist Capitol Group, Inc. registered on the same day (February 18) for two separate cable industry trade groups with nearly identical names: the Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association & the Colorado Cable Television Association.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> Three clusters of double-dipping: HB Strategies (16 registrations from 8 names across two clients), Sewald Hanfling (4 registrations from 2 names across two clients), & Weist (2 clients with almost the same name on the same day).

The registrations arrived in waves. '''Cisco's in-house lobbyist Joseph Lee registered on February 10, the same day the bill was introduced.'''<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> '''IBM's eight HB Strategies lobbyists registered the next morning.''' A lobbyist can't file a position on a bill that hasn't been introduced; same-day and next-day registrations from two separate companies indicate both had advance knowledge of the bill before it was publicly filed. Cisco's outside firm (Sewald Hanfling), the cable associations, & the Denver Metro Chamber registered between February 16 & 18. The Colorado Springs Chamber added its matching HB Strategies team on March 2. The Colorado Technology Association added Sewald Hanfling on March 5-6. TechNet registered five lobbyists on March 12. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce was last, 44 days after introduction, on March 26.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" />

===Lobbying spending===

At least $362,735 in known lobbying spending backs this exemption.<ref name="soda-dataset">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado (browsable dataset) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To reproduce this total: query the SODA API at https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json using <code>$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%CISCO%' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code> for each client (Cisco, IBM, Colorado Technology Association, Colorado Springs Chamber), then add the four results. The dataset ID is dxfk-9ifj. The individual queries and their results are cited in the table below.</ref> Four of the ten supporting organizations have spending data on file with the Colorado Secretary of State. The other six (TechNet, Denver Metro Chamber, Colorado Chamber, both cable associations, & FGR Hub) don't appear in the database during this period, & March & April 2026 filings are not yet available.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Lobbying payments from SB26-090 supporting organizations, October 2024 through February 2026
|-
!Organization!!Total paid to Colorado lobbyists!!Lobbying firm
|-
|Cisco||$127,854<ref name="soda-cisco">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Cisco Systems |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25CISCO%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|Colorado Technology Association||$116,000<ref name="soda-cta">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Technology Association via Sewald Hanfling |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25SEWALD HANFLING%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO TECHNOLOGY%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs
|-
|IBM||$74,570<ref name="soda-ibm">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: IBM |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref>||HB Strategies + in-house
|-
|Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC||$44,311<ref name="soda-cospr-hb">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via HB Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25HB STRATEGIES%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER%25' AND fiscalyear in('2024-2025','2025-2026')</code></ref><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: Colorado Springs Chamber via Weaver Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$select=sum(incomeamount)&$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25WEAVER%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25COLORADO SPRINGS%25' AND fiscalyear='2025-2026'</code></ref>||HB Strategies + Weaver Strategies
|-
|'''Total'''||'''$362,735'''||
|}

Cisco paid Sewald Hanfling $6,500 per month for at least 14 of the 15 months between October 2024 & December 2025. '''In January 2026, the payment jumped to $7,500; SB26-090 was introduced on February 10.'''<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:soda-cisco-retainer-raise.png|thumb|300px|SODA API response showing Cisco's monthly payments to Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, $6,500 per month through December 2025, rising to $7,500 in January 2026.]]

IBM paid HB Strategies $72,500 in 13 payments between October 2024 & February 2026. IBM's in-house lobbyist Alexi Madon reported another $2,069.76 over three months.<ref name="soda-ibm" />

The Colorado Technology Association paid $116,000 to Sewald Hanfling, the same firm Cisco pays.<ref name="soda-cta" /> The Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC paid $44,311 split between HB Strategies & Weaver Strategies.<ref name="soda-cospr-hb" /><ref name="soda-cospr-weaver" />

Micki Hackenberger, who runs HB Strategies, reported $510,922.50 in personal lobbying income for the year ending June 2025.<ref name="sos-hackenberger">Colorado Secretary of State, Online Lobby System, cumulative disclosure statement for Micki M. Hackenberger, FY 2024-2025, filed July 14, 2025. To verify: go to https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby, click "Lobbyist Search," enter "Hackenberger" as last name, open her profile, and view the cumulative disclosure statement for FY 2024-2025. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:hackenberger.png|thumb|300px|Colorado Secretary of State cumulative disclosure statement showing Micki Hackenberger reported $510,922.50 in lobbying income for the year ending June 2025, filed July 14, 2025.]]

Hackenberger also personally donated to four of the five SB26-090 sponsors & committee members who received lobbying network money: $400 to Catlin, $450 to Hartsook, $225 to Snyder, & $450 to Carson.<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-donations">Colorado TRACER, RecordIDs 6851545, 6856570, 6911305, 7060021: donations from Micki Hackenberger to Catlin ($400, Sep 6 2024), Hartsook ($450, Sep 18 2024), Snyder ($225, Nov 17 2024), and Carson ($450, Sep 25 2025). To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> The only recipient she didn't donate to was Danielson, who received $3,800 from Sewald Hanfling instead.<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson" />

J. Andrew Green & Assoc. is registered as IBM's lobbyist on SB26-090, but the state income database shows zero payments from IBM to Green.<ref name="soda-green-ibm">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from IBM (no records) |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25IBM%25'</code> This returns an empty array, confirming zero payments.</ref> Green reports $14,840 from HB Strategies in January 2026.<ref name="soda-green-hb">{{Cite web |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Legislative/Professional-Lobbyist-Income-in-Colorado/dxfk-9ifj |title=Professional Lobbyist Income in Colorado: J. Andrew Green from HB Strategies |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=2026-04-03}} To verify via the SODA API, query: <code>https://data.colorado.gov/resource/dxfk-9ifj.json?$where=upper(lobbyistname) like '%25GREEN%25' AND upper(lobbyistname) like '%25ANDREW%25' AND upper(clientname) like '%25HB STRAT%25'</code></ref> HB Strategies collects from both IBM & the Colorado Springs Chamber, then subcontracts Green from that pool.

'''The five organizations opposing the bill (CoPIRG, Eco-Cycle, Repair.org, the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, & NFIB) have zero disclosed lobbying spending in the same database during 2024-2026.'''<ref name="soda-dataset" />

===Campaign donations===

Lobbyists & firms registered to support SB26-090 donated a total of $15,725 to the bill's three sponsors & five committee members between 2024 & early 2026.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Sewald Hanfling employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Sewald" or "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, and search within the date range 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Then filter results by recipient for each SB26-090 sponsor and committee member. TRACER bulk data is also available for download at https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Brandeberry McKenna employees to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Brandeberry" or "McKenna" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Micki Hackenberger to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hackenberger" as Contributor Last Name, and search within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

On December 19, 2025, Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated $450 to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder.<ref name="tracer-hanfling-snyder">Colorado TRACER, RecordID 7171526: $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling to Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, December 19, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name and "Snyder" as Committee Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Snyder sponsored SB26-090 53 days later. Cisco pays Hanfling's firm $7,500 per month, and Hanfling is registered as Cisco's lobbyist on the bill.<ref name="soda-cisco" /><ref name="sos-lobby-system" /> The donation amount is small; the timeline connecting Cisco's lobbyist to a bill sponsor weeks before introduction is the pattern.

[[File:marcsnyder.png|thumb|300px|Colorado TRACER filing showing a $450 donation from Joshua Hanfling (Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs) to the Committee to Elect Marc Snyder, dated December 19, 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network to sponsors & committee members
|-
!Firm!!SB26-090 client(s)!!Total!!Recipients
|-
|Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs||Cisco, CO Tech Assn||$6,225<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Liston
|-
|Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs||CO Springs Chamber||$3,650<ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" />||Danielson, Carson, Snyder, Liston, Catlin
|-
|HB Strategies / Husch Blackwell||IBM, CO Springs Chamber||$3,575<ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hbs-employees">Colorado TRACER contribution search: donations from Goff, Neimond, Lo (Husch Blackwell Strategies) to SB26-090 legislators, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," and search each name individually: "Goff" + "Erin", "Neimond" + "Kevin", "Lo" + "Elizabeth" as Contributor Last/First Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Snyder, Hartsook, Catlin, Liston
|-
|Colorado Chamber PAC||(self)||$1,800<ref name="tracer-co-chamber-pac">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Colorado Chamber PAC donations to SB26-090 sponsors and committee members, 2023-2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Colorado Chamber" as Committee Name under the "Committee Giving" tab, and search within 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Snyder, Hartsook, Liston, Catlin
|-
|J. Andrew Green & Assoc.||IBM (via HB subcontract)||$450<ref name="tracer-bulk-download">{{Cite web |url=https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/DataDownload.aspx |title=TRACER Public Site: Data Download |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State, TRACER |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref>||Carson
|-
|Weaver Strategies||CO Cable Television Assn||$450<ref name="tracer-weaver-morton">Colorado TRACER contribution search: Kachina Morton (Weaver Strategies) donations to SB26-090 sponsors, 2025. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Morton" as Contributor Last Name and "Kachina" as First Name, and search within 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>||Carson, Liston
|}

R.D. Sewald & Josh Hanfling of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs donated a combined $3,800 to committee chair Jessie Danielson across four transactions:<ref name="tracer-sewald-hanfling-danielson">Colorado TRACER contributions: R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to Jessie Danielson campaign, RecordIDs 6858173, 6858175, 7092122, 7186003. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Danielson" as Committee Name, then search separately for "Sewald" and "Hanfling" as Contributor Last Name, within 2024-01-01 to 2025-12-31. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref>

[[File:tracer-sewald-hanfling-to-danielson.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing four donations from R.D. Sewald and Joshua Hanfling to the Jessie Danielson campaign committee, September 2024 through November 2025.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date!!Donor!!Amount!!TRACER RecordID
|-
|September 24, 2024||R.D. Sewald||$450||6858173
|-
|September 24, 2024||Joshua Hanfling||$450||6858175
|-
|July 15, 2025||Joshua Hanfling||$1,450||7092122
|-
|November 4, 2025||R.D. Sewald||$1,450||7186003
|}

Danielson chairs the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee. She voted to advance SB26-090 on April 2, 2026.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

On September 4, 2024, Jenifer Brandeberry & Julie McKenna of Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs each donated $450 to committee member Senator Marc Catlin (RecordIDs 6851546, 6851547).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin">Colorado TRACER contributions: six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna to Marc Catlin campaign, RecordIDs 6851545, 6851542, 6851535, 6851531, 6851546, 6851547. September 4-6, 2024. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Catlin" as Committee Name, and search within 2024-09-01 to 2024-09-30. Then search each donor name: Hackenberger, Lo, Goff, Neimond, Brandeberry, McKenna. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Two days later, on September 6, four employees of Husch Blackwell Strategies (the parent company behind HB Strategies) donated to Catlin on the same day: Micki Hackenberger ($400, RecordID 6851545), Elizabeth Lo ($250, RecordID 6851542), Erin Goff ($200, RecordID 6851535), & Kevin Neimond ($100, RecordID 6851531).<ref name="tracer-six-lobbyists-catlin" /> Six lobbyists from two firms, all later registered on SB26-090, donated $1,850 to the same senator within 48 hours. Catlin voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-six-lobbyists-to-catlin.png|thumb|300px|TRACER contribution search showing six lobbyists from HB Strategies and Brandeberry McKenna donated a combined $1,850 to the Marc Catlin campaign committee between September 4-6, 2024.]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Donations from SB26-090 lobbying network by recipient
|-
!Legislator!!Role!!Total received!!Number of donors
|-
|Jessie Danielson||Committee Chair (D)||$4,300<ref name="tracer-bulk-download" />||4
|-
|Larry Liston||Committee Member (R)||$2,850||7
|-
|Marc Snyder||Bill Sponsor (D)||$2,525||7
|-
|Marc Catlin||Committee Member (R)||$2,300||7
|-
|John Carson||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,900||7
|-
|Anthony Hartsook||Bill Sponsor (R)||$1,850||5
|-
|Nick Hinrichsen||Committee Vice Chair (D)||$0||0
|-
|Iman Jodeh||Committee Member (D)||$0||0
|}

Senators Nick Hinrichsen & Iman Jodeh received zero donations from any SB26-090 lobbying firm, PAC, or corporate employee in the 2024-2026 TRACER data.<ref name="tracer-hinrichsen-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Nick Hinrichsen, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Hinrichsen" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref><ref name="tracer-jodeh-zero">Colorado TRACER contribution search: no results for SB26-090 lobbying firms to Iman Jodeh, 2024-2026. To verify: go to https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov, click "Contribution Search," enter "Jodeh" as Committee Name, and search for each lobbying firm (Sewald, Hanfling, Hackenberger, Brandeberry, McKenna, Goff, Neimond, Lo) as Contributor Last Name within 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31. All searches return zero results. Accessed April 3, 2026.</ref> Both sit on the committee. Both voted to advance the bill.<ref name="leg-sb090" />

[[File:tracer-hinrichsen-zero-sewald.png|thumb|300px|TRACER search showing zero donations from Sewald Hanfling to the Hinrichsen campaign, 2024-2026.]]

===Colorado's lobbying disclosure system===

Colorado law doesn't require lobbyists to break down spending by bill.<ref name="crs-24-6-302">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/article-6/part-3/section-24-6-302/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-6-302: Disclosure |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> The $362,735 figure is total client payments to their lobbyists during this period; the connection to SB26-090 comes from separate position filings where those same lobbyists registered as supporting the bill.<ref name="sos-lobby-system" /><ref name="soda-dataset" /> There is no single database where a citizen can type in "SB26-090" & see how much Cisco spent to support it.

Three separate systems hold the data: the Secretary of State's Online Lobby System (lobbying registrations & bill positions), the Professional Lobbyist Income dataset on Colorado's open data portal (monthly payments from clients to lobbyists), & TRACER (campaign donations).<ref name="crs-24-6-302" /> Connecting a corporation's lobbying money to a specific vote requires pulling data from all three & matching records by hand.

[[File:crs-1-45-105-5-lobbyist-contributions.png|thumb|300px|C.R.S. 1-45-105.5, the Colorado statute restricting lobbyist campaign contributions during legislative sessions.]]

Colorado law allows lobbyists to donate to legislators they lobby, as long as the donation falls outside the regular legislative session (C.R.S. 1-45-105.5).<ref name="crs-1-45-105-5">{{Cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-1/article-45/section-1-45-105-5/ |title=Colorado Revised Statutes Section 1-45-105.5: Contributions from Lobbyists |publisher=Justia (mirror of Colorado Revised Statutes, 2023 edition) |access-date=2026-04-03}}</ref> SB25-148, a bill to ban lobbyist donations to legislators year-round, was killed by the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs in March 2025.<ref name="leg-sb25148">{{Cite web |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-148 |title=SB25-148: Concerning Lobbyist Contributions to Candidates |publisher=Colorado General Assembly}}</ref> Twelve months later, SB26-090's lobbyists had donated $15,725 to the bill's sponsors & committee members.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" />

===The cybersecurity argument===

Manufacturers backing SB26-090 argue that sharing diagnostic tools, firmware, & schematics for enterprise infrastructure could enable bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities.<ref name="wired" /> iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens testified at the hearing: "There's a general principle in cybersecurity that obscurity is not security. The money that's behind the scenes, that's what's driving the bill."<ref name="wired" />

Cybersecurity researchers directly dispute the manufacturer framing. Security researcher Billy Rios & threat researcher Andrew Brandt spoke against the exemption on the Securepairs podcast.<ref name="ifixit-sb090">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/116447/a-new-colorado-bill-could-blow-a-hole-in-the-nations-strongest-right-to-repair-law |title=A New Colorado Bill Could Blow a Hole in the Nation's Strongest Right to Repair Law |author=Elizabeth Chamberlain |publisher=iFixit |date=April 1, 2026}}</ref> Paul Roberts, chief of The Security Ledger & founder of Securepairs.org, stated: "A vibrant and healthy market for repair isn't a cybersecurity risk. In fact, it should be considered a cybersecurity imperative!"<ref name="ifixit-sb090" />

Repair advocates also point out that restricting independent repair makes critical infrastructure less secure, not more. If a piece of critical networking equipment fails, the operator needs to fix it immediately rather than wait for manufacturer approval & a service contract dispatch.<ref name="wired" />

==Committee hearing testimony==

The April 2, 2026 hearing before the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee drew over a dozen repair advocates who testified against the bill.<ref name="wired" /> Organizations represented included [[iFixit]], CoPIRG, the Repair Association, & PIRG's national campaign. Repair advocate Louis Rossmann was also present.<ref name="wired" />

Katz, who described Colorado as having "the broadest repair rights in the country," warned that the bill "is a bad policy and would be a big step back for Coloradans' repair rights."<ref name="wired" /> Gordon-Byrne pointed to at least five drafting problems.<ref name="wired" />

===Carson's claim about a Polis signing statement===

During the hearing, bill sponsor Senator John Carson stated the following: <blockquote>"And I want to note that when Governor Polis signed House Bill 24-1121, when he signed it into law, he issued a directive in his signing statement that the law should be fixed before its implementation date of January 1, 2026. He noted that Colorado is the only state in the nation that requires devices used for critical infrastructure be included in their repair law. So we're running this bill to fix a critical mistake made in the original law and protect our devices from malicious attacks."<ref name="sb090-hearing">Colorado General Assembly, Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee hearing on SB26-090, April 2, 2026. Audio/video archived at the Colorado General Assembly Harmony system: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260402/-1/27982</ref></blockquote>'''No such directive exists.''' Governor Polis's official press release on signing HB24-1121, dated May 28, 2024, contains no mention of critical infrastructure, no directive to "fix" the law, and no statement that Colorado is an outlier.<ref name="polis-signing">{{Cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-signs-right-repair-law-legislation-strengthen-colorados-economy-create-jobs |title=Governor Polis Signs Right to Repair Law, Legislation to Strengthen Colorado's Economy, Create Jobs & Support Creative Industries |publisher=Office of Governor Jared Polis |date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=2026-04-04}}</ref> Polis's actual statement read: <blockquote>"Protecting our right to repair our own broken equipment will save money, strengthen small businesses, and reduce technology waste."<ref name="polis-signing" /> </blockquote>The press release links to the formal signing statement; neither document contains any conditional language regarding critical infrastructure or a mandate to amend the law before its effective date.

The specific framing Carson attributed to the Governor, that the law "should be fixed" to exclude critical infrastructure before January 1, 2026, matches the exact purpose of SB26-090, a bill Carson himself sponsors.

'''Despite unanimous opposition from repair advocates, the committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill.'''<ref name="wired" /> The five yes votes came from legislators whose campaigns collectively received $15,725 from the bill's lobbying network.<ref name="tracer-sewald-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-brandeberry-to-legislators" /><ref name="tracer-hackenberger-to-legislators" />

Proctor, speaking after the vote, said: "This only hardens my resolve. We cannot stop until this problem is addressed. In practice everywhere, people need to be able to fix their stuff. This is proof that we have to keep going."<ref name="wired" />

==Military right to repair==

The Department of Defense has been fighting manufacturer repair restrictions on its own equipment.<ref name="dodnews-repair" />

On June 10, 2025, Navy Secretary John Phelan testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee: "I am a huge supporter of right to repair."<ref name="warren-phelan">{{Cite web |url=https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/navy-secretary-declares-support-for-legislation-to-guarantee-the-militarys-right-to-repair-its-own-equipment |title=Navy Secretary Declares Support for Legislation to Guarantee the Military's Right to Repair Its Own Equipment |publisher=Office of Senator Elizabeth Warren |date=June 10, 2025}}</ref> Phelan described conditions aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, where six of the ship's eight ovens broke down. The ship serves 15,300 meals per day. Sailors were capable of fixing the ovens but were contractually forbidden from doing so; the Navy had to wait for a private contractor to arrive.<ref name="register-navy">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/11/us_navy_repair/ |title=US Navy secretary backs right-to-repair push |publisher=The Register |date=June 11, 2025}}</ref>

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll made a similar point at the Association of the U.S. Army convention in October 2025. He held up a broken fin from a Black Hawk helicopter's external fuel tank. The vendor charged over $144,000 for a replacement.<ref name="driscoll-ausa">{{Cite web |url=https://www.mobilityengineeringtech.com/component/content/article/54057-ausa-2025-secretary-driscoll-wants-army-to-save-time-and-money-by-3d-printing-replacement-parts |title=AUSA 2025: Secretary Driscoll Wants Army to Save Time and Money by 3D Printing Replacement Parts |publisher=Mobility Engineering & Technology |date=October 15, 2025}}</ref> Driscoll's team reverse-engineered the part & 3D-printed it in 43 days for $3,000.<ref name="csis-wrench">{{Cite web |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/who-controls-wrench-debate-over-right-repair |title=Who Controls the Wrench? The Debate Over Right to Repair |publisher=Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)}}</ref><ref name="driscoll-ausa" /> In June 2025 testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Driscoll stated: "On a go-forward basis, we have been directed to not sign any contracts that don't give us a right to repair."<ref name="dodnews-repair">{{Cite web |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2025/06/mil-250610-dodnews02.htm |title=Service Secretaries Advocate for Right to Repair |publisher=DoD News (via GlobalSecurity.org) |date=June 10, 2025}}</ref>

Congress responded with the '''Warrior Right to Repair Act'''. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) & Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) introduced S. 2209 on July 8, 2025; Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) co-led the companion H.R. 5155 in the House.<ref name="withhonor">{{Cite web |url=https://withhonor.org/news/warrior-right-to-repair-empowering-soldiers-and-enhancing-readiness/ |title=Warrior Right to Repair: Empowering Soldiers and Enhancing Readiness |publisher=With Honor |date=2025}}</ref><ref name="warren-warrior">{{Cite web |url=https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-sheehy-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-guarantee-military-right-to-repair-its-equipment |title=Warren, Sheehy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Guarantee Military Right to Repair Its Equipment |publisher=Office of Senator Elizabeth Warren |date=July 8, 2025}}</ref> The bill would require defense contractors to provide the DoD with fair & reasonable access to technical data, software, tools, & manuals for in-house repair.<ref name="warren-warrior" /> Language supporting these principles was incorporated into both House & Senate versions of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act.<ref name="withhonor" />

Both service secretaries publicly called for right to repair protections for military equipment in the same year that Cisco & IBM backed SB26-090 in Colorado.<ref name="dodnews-repair" /><ref name="wired" /><ref name="warren-phelan" />

==Similar attempts in other states==

Colorado isn't the only state where manufacturers have tried to exempt enterprise equipment from repair laws.

In 2025, the Texas legislature passed '''HB2963''', a right to repair bill signed on June 20, 2025 & effective September 1, 2026. The bill used the identical USA PATRIOT Act critical infrastructure exemption (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)) as SB26-090, along with additional exemptions for medical devices & heavy equipment.<ref name="texas">{{Cite web |url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2963 |title=HB 2963 Bill History |publisher=Texas Legislature Online |date=2025}}</ref>

Most states that have passed repair laws, including Oregon, New York, California, & Minnesota, exempted business-to-business equipment from the start.<ref name="fighttorepair" />

As of 2026, right to repair bills have been introduced in every U.S. state & passed in eight.<ref name="wired" />

==See also==

*[[Right to Repair]]
*[[Parts pairing]]
*[[Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act]]
*[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]]
*[[Repair Association]]
*[[iFixit]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Right to Repair]]
[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Colorado]]

Signal

2026-03-27T01:34:51Z

Noewaeda: rough stub

{{Stub}}

{{ProductCargo
|ReleaseYear=2014
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Cloud, Privacy
|Website=https://signal.org/
|Description=Signal is a privacy-focused, open source encrypted messaging service.
}}
'''Signal''' is a privacy-focused, open source encrypted messaging service developed by the nonprofit Signal Foundation. Signal was released in 2014<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Signal-app |publisher=Britannica |first=Meg |last=Matthias |date=2 February 2024 |title=Signal}}</ref>, and has over 70 million active users reported as of 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.businessofapps.com/data/signal-statistics/ |publisher=Business of Apps |title=Signal Revenue & Usage Statistics (2026) |first=David |last=Curry |date=7 January 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
===Freedom & Privacy===
According to the Signal Terms of Service and Signal Privacy Policy<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://signal.org/legal/#terms-of-service |title=Signal >> Terms of Service & Privacy Policy}}</ref>:
* A user agrees to the Signal Terms of Service by using Signal services (includes visiting Signal websites) even if the user does not accept the terms.
* Signal is not required to notify users of any future changes to the Signal Terms of Service or Signal Privacy Policy. As well, continued use of Signal services constitutes agreement to the new terms, even if the user is not aware that there were changes.{{citation needed}}
* Signal expresses maximally limited liability for any damages that may be caused.
* Signal may share information to authorities to comply with law.
* Signal may share information with third-parties, which are bound to ''their own'' privacy policies.

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Secure value recovery (2020-present)===
{{Main|Signal cloud backups}}
In 2020, Signal was accused of collecting and storing sensitive user data on their cloud database without user consent.{{citation needed}}

==See also==
* [[WhatsApp]]
* [[Discord]]
* [[Electron]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Signal

2026-03-26T23:32:43Z

Noewaeda: Created page with "{{ProductCargo |ReleaseYear=2014 |InProduction=Yes |ArticleType=Service |Category=Cloud, Privacy |Website=https://signal.org/ |Description=Signal is a privacy-focused, open source encrypted messaging service. }} {{Ph-C-Int}} ==Consumer-impact summary== {{Ph-C-CIS}} ==Incidents== {{Ph-C-Inc}} This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the :Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} categ..."

{{ProductCargo
|ReleaseYear=2014
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Cloud, Privacy
|Website=https://signal.org/
|Description=Signal is a privacy-focused, open source encrypted messaging service.
}}
{{Ph-C-Int}}

==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}

==Incidents==
{{Ph-C-Inc}}
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Example incident one (''date'')===
{{Main|link to the main CR Wiki article}}
Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).
===Example incident two (''date'')===
...

==See also==
{{Ph-C-SA}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Revolut

2026-03-26T22:45:06Z

Noewaeda: add "stated" to the "70 million customers" claim

{{Incomplete}}
{{ProductCargo
|Description=Financial technology company known for its free and subscription-based digital banking services
|Type=Private
|Category=Digital Banking
|Company=Revolut Group Holdings Ltd
|Website=https://revolut.com
|Industry=Digital Banking
|Logo=Revolut logo.svg
|Founded=2015-07-00}}

'''{{Wplink|Revolut}}''' offers free and subscription-based digital banking services.<ref>{{Cite news |title=What is Revolut? |publisher=BBC |first=Mary-Ann |last=Russon |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47768661 |date=1 April 2019}}</ref> Launched in 2015 with over 70 million customers stated as of 2026<ref>{{cite web |title=2025 Annual Report |publisher=Revolut Group Holdings Ltd |url=https://assets.revolut.com/pdf/annualreport2025.pdf}}</ref>, its services include bank accounts, debit cards, credit cards, currency exchange, stock trading, cryptocurrency exchange and peer to peer payments.

==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===App explicitly blocked on Android ROMs claiming data security reasons (''2024 - Present):''===
{{Main|Revolut blocked access for users with custom OS}}
In November 2024, Revolut pushed an update that removed support to users with custom OS on their device. The change was announced through an in-app message, which was shown after a user tried to log in. The change also affected users whom already had an account and funds at the Company.

==Products==
{{Ph-C-P}}

==See also==

*[[Chase Bank]]
*[[PayPal]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Revolut

2026-03-26T19:58:02Z

Noewaeda: work -> publisher

{{Incomplete}}
{{ProductCargo
|Description=Financial technology company known for its free and subscription-based digital banking services
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Digital Banking
|Company=Revolut Group Holdings Ltd
|Website=https://revolut.com
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=Revolut logo.svg
|ReleaseYear=2015}}

'''{{Wplink|Revolut}}''' offers free and subscription-based digital banking services.<ref>{{Cite news |title=What is Revolut? |publisher=BBC |first=Mary-Ann |last=Russon |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47768661 |date=1 April 2019}}</ref> Launched in 2015 with over 70 million customers as of 2026<ref>{{cite web |title=2025 Annual Report |publisher=Revolut Group Holdings Ltd |url=https://assets.revolut.com/pdf/annualreport2025.pdf}}</ref>, its services include bank accounts, debit cards, credit cards, currency exchange, stock trading, cryptocurrency exchange and peer to peer payments.

==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===App explicitly blocked on Android ROMs claiming data security reasons (''2024 - Present):''===
{{Main|Revolut blocked access for users with custom OS}}
In November 2024, Revolut pushed an update that removed support to users with custom OS on their device. The change was announced through an in-app message, which was shown after a user tried to log in. The change also affected users whom already had an account and funds at the Company.

==Products==
{{Ph-C-P}}

==See also==

*[[Chase Bank]]
*[[PayPal]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Revolut

2026-03-26T19:56:16Z

Noewaeda: add some citations

{{Incomplete}}
{{ProductCargo
|Description=Financial technology company known for its free and subscription-based digital banking services
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Digital Banking
|Company=Revolut Group Holdings Ltd
|Website=https://revolut.com
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=Revolut logo.svg
|ReleaseYear=2015}}

'''{{Wplink|Revolut}}''' offers free and subscription-based digital banking services.<ref>{{Cite news |title=What is Revolut? |work=BBC |first=Mary-Ann |last=Russon |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47768661 |date=1 April 2019}}</ref> Launched in 2015 with over 70 million customers as of 2026<ref>{{cite web |title=2025 Annual Report |publisher=Revolut Group Holdings Ltd |url=https://assets.revolut.com/pdf/annualreport2025.pdf}}</ref>, its services include bank accounts, debit cards, credit cards, currency exchange, stock trading, cryptocurrency exchange and peer to peer payments.

==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===App explicitly blocked on Android ROMs claiming data security reasons (''2024 - Present):''===
{{Main|Revolut blocked access for users with custom OS}}
In November 2024, Revolut pushed an update that removed support to users with custom OS on their device. The change was announced through an in-app message, which was shown after a user tried to log in. The change also affected users whom already had an account and funds at the Company.

==Products==
{{Ph-C-P}}

==See also==

*[[Chase Bank]]
*[[PayPal]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Digital rights management

2026-03-25T21:07:08Z

Noewaeda: Fix typo

[[Category:Anti-consumer practices]]
[[Category:Common terms]]

[[wikipedia:Digital_rights_management|'''Digital rights management''']] (DRM), alternatively known as '''digital restrictions management'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stallman |first=Richard |title=Opposing Digital Rights Mismanagement |url=https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/opposing-drm.en.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251009050044/https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/opposing-drm.en.html |archive-date=9 Oct 2025}}</ref>, broadly refers to any kind of access control technology that is used to deliberately restrict the usage of media content or devices after the sale. It is typically used by a seller to protect their digital rights through prevention of unauthorized distribution or replication of their product. Implementations of DRM can range from very simple (such as a basic disc check) to extremely complex executable binary obfuscation (such as Denuvo)

<blockquote>DRM creates a damaged good; it prevents you from doing what would be possible without it. – Defective by Design<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is DRM? |url=https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260203202020/https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm |archive-date=2026-02-03 |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Defective by Design}}</ref></blockquote>

==Why it is a problem==
Any design of a device that allows it to act against the intention of its owner constitutes a case of [[Right to own|eroded ownership]] over the device.

A DRM technology is, by design, an artificial restriction of capabilities of a device, either in general or only for certain protected types of content. From a perspective of the rights holder (whose rights DRM protects), such restrictions need to be effective when the device or a copy of a creative work is in user's physical possession. And physical access inherently allows for many techniques of analysis and reverse engineering that may be used to devise a way to circumvent the restrictions. Therefore to be effective, a DRM technology needs to withstand the circumvention techniques available to consumers. This presents a significant engineering challenge, seemingly with no perfect solution, because solutions to date have failed or compromised various additional functions in different ways.

For example, Netflix requires HDCP DRM for playback of its video content in advertised quality. And on multi-monitor systems HDCP only works if ''all'' connected monitors support it, not just the one that displays the video.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-24 |title=Netflix requires all monitors to be HDCP 2.2. How can I get around this? |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/1avkwtb/netflix_requires_all_monitors_to_be_hdcp_22_how/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126224945/https://old.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/1avkwtb/netflix_requires_all_monitors_to_be_hdcp_22_how/ |archive-date=2025-01-26 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Old Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-22 |title=How do I get Netflix working at 4k on my second monitor? |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/netflix/comments/mam2l9/how_do_i_get_netflix_working_at_4k_on_my_second/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250403054443/https://old.reddit.com/r/netflix/comments/mam2l9/how_do_i_get_netflix_working_at_4k_on_my_second/ |archive-date=2025-04-03 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Old Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How to use Netflix on your Windows computer or tablet |url=https://help.netflix.com/en/node/23931 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104160941/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/23931 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Netflix Help Center}}</ref> This means that older but fully functional monitors cannot be used as secondary screens without causing HDCP to fail on that PC and thus causing Netflix to serve a version of the content much lower in quality than it advertises.

Requirements such as this are not always clearly disclosed. When they are, they are often buried in the Terms of Service or, in Netflix's case, require navigating through multiple FAQ pages. Furthermore, some content may surreptitiously install DRM without the knowledge or consent of the user, such as in the Sony Rootkit scandal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Oct 2005 |title=Sony, Rootkits and Digital Rights Management Gone Too Far |url=https://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2005/10/31/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights-management-gone-too-far.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317040653/http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2005/10/31/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights-management-gone-too-far.aspx |archive-date=17 Mar 2015 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Mark Russinovich's Blog}}</ref> Such software may contain exploits that can compromise the security of the user's PC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krebs |first=Brian |date=10 Nov 2005 |title=Virus Writers Exploit Sony Anti-Piracy Software |url=https://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2005/11/virus_writers_exploit_sony_ant.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116191907/http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2005/11/virus_writers_exploit_sony_ant.html |archive-date=16 Nov 2006 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Washington Post}}</ref>

DRM in video games has frequently been implemented in an intrusive manner, hurting load times and performance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kessler |first=Ana |date=25 May 2023 |title=Testing Reveals Games with Denuvo Launch Up to Four Times Slower |url=https://80.lv/articles/testing-reveals-games-with-denuvo-launch-up-to-four-times-slower/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250911084255/https://80.lv/articles/testing-reveals-games-with-denuvo-launch-up-to-four-times-slower |archive-date=2025-09-11 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=80.lv}}</ref> This behavior has been more a result of negligent usage of the DRM rather than deliberate malicious intent. The detrimental effect of DRM on games appears to be known to their developers and publishers, seeing that DRM is removed from some games some time after the release,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wesh |first=Oli |date=2009-07-09 |title=DRM removed, UGC in Witcher patch |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/drm-removed-ugc-added-in-witcher-patch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211070935/https://www.eurogamer.net/drm-removed-ugc-added-in-witcher-patch |archive-date=2024-12-11 |website=Eurogamer}}</ref> often with no announcement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grayson |first=Nathan |date=2016-12-08 |title=Doom Becomes Latest Game To Drop Anti-Piracy Tech Denuvo |url=https://kotaku.com/doom-becomes-latest-game-to-drop-anti-piracy-tech-denuv-1789838010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250821033141/https://kotaku.com/doom-becomes-latest-game-to-drop-anti-piracy-tech-denuv-1789838010 |archive-date=2025-08-21 |website=Kotaku}}</ref>

DRM failures can also come as a surprise. For example, with a YouTube Premium subscription, you can "Download videos to watch offline", but such videos are only available for 48 hours without an internet connection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch videos offline on mobile in select countries & regions |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6141269 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260115091128/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6141269 |archive-date=2026-01-15 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=YouTube Help}}</ref> This creates confusion and problems, as users may want to download videos in anticipation of a period without internet access.

===Ineffectiveness of audio and video DRM===
It is nearly impossible to prevent copying of non-interactive content such as audio and video once it is distributed to the consumer.

Macrovision DRM can be defeated using a widely available time base corrector,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-09 |title=Bought this box back in the early 90s to eliminate Macrovision copy guard on tapes - cost $49.95 back then. Decided to see if it still works by recording my Red Label Star Wars set to DVD. Still working it’s magic! |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/VHS/comments/so4xs5/bought_this_box_back_in_the_early_90s_to/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250402200726/https://old.reddit.com/r/VHS/comments/so4xs5/bought_this_box_back_in_the_early_90s_to/ |archive-date=2025-04-02 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Old Reddit}}</ref> which strips out the signal that triggers the AGC on VCRs or Macrovision compliant devices.

Many HDMI splitters<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-23 |title=Bypassing HDCP in 2024 |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/PS3/comments/19dohrh/bypassing_hdcp_in_2024/lbtqiky/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121093658/https://old.reddit.com/r/PS3/comments/19dohrh/bypassing_hdcp_in_2024/lbtqiky/ |archive-date=2025-01-21 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Old Reddit}}</ref> and capture cards<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-23 |title=I bought a $40 capture card off Amazon and it seems to have hdcp bypass because my PS3 works directly with it. |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/PS3/comments/19dohrh/bypassing_hdcp_in_2024/kj7cu60/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250803020254/https://old.reddit.com/r/PS3/comments/19dohrh/bypassing_hdcp_in_2024/kj7cu60/ |archive-date=2025-08-03 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Old Reddit}}</ref> are capable of decrypting HDCP and copying the video stream. As long as at least one bypass exists at the HDCP level, all streaming content can be trivially ripped.

Audio DRM is trivial to bypass, as the audio must be decrypted into a plain analog signal in order to drive physical speakers or headphones.

===DRM degradation===
The development of some forms of DRM, such as [[wikipedia:Games_for_Windows_–_Live|Games For Windows Live]], are reliant on special processes within some operating systems that end up becoming unsupported or deprecated as time goes on. Legacy [[SecuROM]]-protected titles (released roughly between 1998 and 2005) are notoriously known for not running on operating systems newer than Windows XP<ref>{{Cite web |last=D’Amico |first=Luca |date=5 May 2022 |title=Arabian Nights |url=https://www.lucadamico.dev/papers/drms/securom/ArabianNights.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112055300/https://www.lucadamico.dev/papers/drms/securom/ArabianNights.pdf |archive-date=2026-01-12 |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=lucadamico.dev}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=@haggar |date=15 Oct 2006 |title=Unpacking SecuROM 4.xx |url=https://www.reversing.be/article.php?story=20061015153108847 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226230919/http://www.reversing.be/article.php?story=20061015153108847 |archive-date=26 Feb 2022 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=www.reversing.be}}</ref>. Customers must spend an extensive amount of time circumventing the DRM (or using more illicit methods) just to play content they legitimately purchased.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baggs |first=Nathan |date=16 Jan 2025 |title=Hacking This Terrible DRM |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjkqI7dBDVg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=vjkqI7dBDVg |archive-date=2025-01-20 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

This DRM degradation has the worst effects on physical licenses of products, as unlike a digital installation, if a physical copy of a game's DRM stops being supported by modern hardware, developers cannot simply distribute a patch to directly modify the code on a disc, and online patches cannot last forever.

==DRM in video content==

Attempting to prevent the copying of video content is one of the most common and long-standing uses of DRM. The idea of using copy obstruction on video content predates the term "DRM", one early example being the "Automatic Gain Control" requirement in VCRs used to enforce the "Macrovision" copy-protection scheme.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1999-11-29 |title=17 U.S. Code § 1201 - Circumvention of copyright protection systems |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/1201#k_1_A |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260201101756/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/1201#k_1_A |archive-date=2026-02-01 |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Cornell Law School}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=Macrovision Demystified |url=https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/courses/cs181/projects/1999-00/dmca-2k/macrovision.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251212001352/https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/courses/cs181/projects/1999-00/dmca-2k/macrovision.html |archive-date=2025-12-12 |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Stanford Engineering Computer Science}} </ref>
Formally known as "Analog Copy Protection", the scheme worked by encoding specific control signals into the output signal that corrupted the video. <ref name="hackaday_article">
{{Cite web
| last = Maloney
| first = Dan
| date = 2018-05-27
| title = Rolling Old School With Copy Protection From The 1980s
| url = https://hackaday.com/2018/05/27/rolling-old-school-with-copy-protection-from-the-1980s/
| access-date = 2026-03-19
| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/archive/wa2zi
| archive-date = 2026-03-19
}}
</ref>
These signals were generally ignored by TVs, so when the VHS tape was played back, the video appeared correct, but VCRs handled these bogus signals, causing the recorded tape to contain the corrupted video. <ref name="hackaday_article" />

From 1996, DVDs began to feature the "Content Scramble System" (CSS), an encryption based DRM. CSS was successfully circumvented as early as 1999, less than five years after its introduction, partly due to the limited length of the 40-bit encryption key, which was used to comply with US government export regulations of the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevenson |first=Frank Andrew |date=27 Oct 1999 |title=[Livid-dev] Successfull attack on CSS algorithm |url=https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/DeCSS/FrankStevenson/mail1.txt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260114031245/https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/DeCSS/FrankStevenson/mail1.txt |archive-date=2026-01-14 |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevenson |first=Frank A. |date=8 November 1999 |title=Cryptanalysis of Contents Scrambling System |url=http://www.dvd-copy.com/news/cryptanalysis_of_contents_scrambling_system.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000302000206/http://www.dvd-copy.com/news/cryptanalysis_of_contents_scrambling_system.htm |archive-date=2000-03-02 |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=DVD-Copy}}</ref> Following this, DVDs as well as HD-DVDs and Blu-Rays would implement other types of DRM, one of them being the "Advanced Access Content System".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Advanced Access Content System (AACS) |url=https://www.aacsla.com/specifications/specs091/AACS_Spec_Common_0.91.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302130221/http://www.aacsla.com/specifications/specs091/AACS_Spec_Common_0.91.pdf |archive-date=2 Mar 2007 |access-date=20 Apr 2025}}
</ref> When the first AACS processing key was similarly extracted, the AACS Licensing Administrator began issuing cease-and-desist letters to websites where the key was posted.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Apr 2007 |title=AACS licensor complains of posted key |url=https://lumendatabase.org/notices/21725 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251207212919/https://lumendatabase.org/notices/21725 |archive-date=2025-12-07 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Lumen}}</ref> Another form of Blu-Ray DRM, [[Cinavia]], uses a form of audio watermarking that makes certain releases unplayable in devices that are not equipped to recognize it, a notable example being Sony's Playstation 3.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ganesh |first=T. S. |date=21 Mar 2012 |title=Cinavia DRM: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Blu-ray’s Self-Destruction |url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/5693/cinavia-drm-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-blurays-selfdestruction/2 |url-status=live |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=AnandTech |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174835/https://www.anandtech.com/show/5693/cinavia-drm-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-blurays-selfdestruction/2 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref>

In the attempt of preventing video ripping via a capture card, modern displays, optical disc players, and computers use the [[wikipedia:High-bandwidth_Digital_Content_Protection|High-Definition Content Protection]] system to encrypt display signals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About DCP |url=https://www.digital-cp.com/about_dcp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104104231/https://www.digital-cp.com/about_dcp |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Digital CP}}</ref> For example, [[Netflix stream-quality controversy|Netflix will refuse]] to stream content at the full resolution advertised for the plan if the user is not streaming through an HDCP compliant video card and display.

For terrestrial over-the-air broadcast, in 2023 [[ATSC 3.0]] pilot stations across the United States started to encrypt their signals,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=15 May 2023 |title=Broadcasters Roll Out Restrictive DRM Encryption on ATSC 3.0 Broadcasts |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/05/15/broadcasters-roll-out-restrictive-drm-encryption-on-atsc-3-0-broadcasts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104092252/https://blog.lon.tv/2023/05/15/broadcasters-roll-out-restrictive-drm-encryption-on-atsc-3-0-broadcasts/ |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref> leaving those that bought ATSC 3.0 tuners that could not decrypt broadcasts unable to watch the newly encrypted channels. Those tuners that were later certified by the A3SA authority to decrypt signals also had potential restrictions placed as part of the DRM scheme, such as blocking recordings and remote tuner access.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Jared |date=28 Jul 2023 |title=NextGen TV’s DRM puts future of the over-the-air DVR in doubt |url=https://www.techhive.com/article/2009693/nextgen-tv-drm-puts-future-of-the-over-the-air-dvr-in-doubt.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213194219/https://www.techhive.com/article/2009693/nextgen-tv-drm-puts-future-of-the-over-the-air-dvr-in-doubt.html |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=TechHive}}</ref>

==DRM in audio content==
Another place DRMs were used in was audio content, which was rarely implemented due to audio's analog nature (compared to video and software), making it questionable whether it could effectively block data replication. The most notable application of audio DRM was [[wikipedia:MediaMax|MediaMax]], which essentially functioned as malware to prevent users from simply playing these audio discs on Windows and macOS. There was also the less-notable [[wikipedia:Extended_Copy_Protection|Extended Copy Protection]] (XCP) DRM, however it did leave [[Sony]] in hot water<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=1 February 2026 |title=Sony BMG copy protection rootkit scandal |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_rootkit_scandal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260204145529/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_rootkit_scandal |archive-date=2026-02-04 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Wikipedia}}</ref>, dubbing this form of DRM also as the Sony Rootkit.

==DRM in software==
Most discussions about DRM often associate its use with some form of software restriction, from the simple product key, to the infamous [[Denuvo]] DRM. Historically, DRM started off with simpler physical techniques, such as decoder wheels and [[wikipedia:Lenslok|LensLok]]. The effectiveness of these systems varied, and many cracking groups simply found ways around them, especially since second-hand copies of software that used these primitive forms of DRM could easily become lost, damaged, or worse, fail to function with certain hardware.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitehead |first=Ben |date=15 Apr 2010 |title=Banging the DRM |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/banging-the-drm-article?page=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251118190312/https://www.eurogamer.net/banging-the-drm-article?page=2 |archive-date=2025-11-18 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=EuroGamer}}</ref> This has essentially sparked a game of cat and mouse that continues to fester, especially for the gaming community, to this day.

===Always-online DRM===
Some DRM requires a constant internet connection. While this may make sense in something that inherently requires an internet connection such as a streaming service or multiplayer-only video game, this has also been employed in games with single-player content, rendering customers unable to use their purchase if they do not have an active internet connection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kain |first=Erik |date=17 May 2012 |title='Diablo III' Fans Should Stay Angry About Always-Online DRM |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/05/17/diablo-iii-fans-should-stay-angry-about-always-online-drm/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024065743/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/05/17/diablo-iii-fans-should-stay-angry-about-always-online-drm/ |archive-date=2025-10-24 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Forbes}}</ref> Conversely, if operations for these services are shut down, users, even those with legitimate copies of software and internet access, cannot run their games without resorting to hacking them first.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vitor |first=João |date=12 Jul 2024 |title=Rewriting completely the GameSpy support from 2000 to 2004 using Reverse Engineering on EA and Bungie Games |url=https://keowu.re/posts/Rewriting-completely-the-GameSpy-support-from-2000-to-2004-using-Reverse-Engineering-on-EA-and-Bungie-Games/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251216155905/https://keowu.re/posts/Rewriting-completely-the-GameSpy-support-from-2000-to-2004-using-Reverse-Engineering-on-EA-and-Bungie-Games |archive-date=2025-12-16 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Keowu Blog's}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burns |first=Chris |date=4 Apr 2014 |title=GameSpy Shuts Down May 31: Will Your Game Be Affected? |url=https://www.slashgear.com/gamespy-shuts-down-may-31-will-your-game-be-affected-04323788/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024204157/https://www.slashgear.com/gamespy-shuts-down-may-31-will-your-game-be-affected-04323788/ |archive-date=2025-10-24 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=SlashGear}}</ref> [[Ubisoft]] has historically been known for server shutdowns and transfers cutting off access to games for many players.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharkey |first=Mike |date=2012-02-08 |title=Ubisoft DRM Locks Out Paying Customers |url=https://pc.gamespy.com/articles/121/1218211p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906130332/http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/121/1218211p1.html |archive-date=2015-09-06 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=IGN Entertainment}}</ref> Encrypted [[ATSC 3.0]] channels cannot be tuned to without a persistent internet connection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=3 Sep 2023 |title=The ADTH Nextgen TV Box Shows Us Just How Bad ATSC 3.0 Encryption Will Be.. |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/09/03/the-adth-nextgen-tv-box-shows-us-just-how-bad-atsc-3-0-encrpytion-will-be/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214005506/https://blog.lon.tv/2023/09/03/the-adth-nextgen-tv-box-shows-us-just-how-bad-atsc-3-0-encrpytion-will-be/ |archive-date=2025-12-14 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

==DRM present elsewhere==

===Network-Attached Storage Units===
''See also: [[Synology requiring proprietary-branded drives to be used with its NAS]]''

In 2025, certain models of pre-built network attached storage units produced by [[Synology]] contained DRM in order to prevent the usage of non-Synology branded hard drives.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morales |first=Jowi |date=2025-04-16 |title=Synology requires self-branded drives for some consumer NAS systems, drops full functionality and support for third-party HDDs |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/nas/synology-requires-self-branded-drives-for-some-consumer-nas-systems-drops-full-functionality-and-support-for-third-party-hdds |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260107215841/https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/nas/synology-requires-self-branded-drives-for-some-consumer-nas-systems-drops-full-functionality-and-support-for-third-party-hdds |archive-date=2026-01-07 |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> This decision recieved a lot of backlash and was reverted in October 2025.

===Printer Ink===
''See also: [[HP Dynamic Security]]''

Companies such as [[HP]] only allow printers to only use ink sold by the same brand. There are a number of DRM systems employed by different companies to this end, an example of which is HP Dynamic Security, which has caught controversy during recent years. Similarly, [[Dymo]] engages in this practice with their paper products using RFID tags.

===Air Filters===
''See also: [[Molekule threatens to remotely shut down devices used with third party air filters]]''

Some companies, namely Molekule and [[Xiaomi]], use NFC-based DRM systems to ensure that replacement air filters which are inserted in air purifying devices are made by the brand. Molekule additionally threatened to permanently shut down any devices which used third-party filters, essentially [[Device bricking|bricking]] them.

===Water Filters===
''See also: [[GE Refrigerator water filter DRM]]''

Certain models of refrigerators manufactured by General Electric contain DRM in order to prevent customers from purchasing generic water filters and to instead force their own water filters which are more expensive. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bode |first=Karl |date=2020-01-23 |title=These Fridges Won’t Dispense Filtered Water Unless You Pay Extra for ‘Official’ Filters With RFID Chips |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/these-fridges-wont-dispense-filtered-water-unless-you-pay-extra-for-official-filters-with-rfid-chips/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251021063650/https://www.vice.com/en/article/these-fridges-wont-dispense-filtered-water-unless-you-pay-extra-for-official-filters-with-rfid-chips/ |archive-date=2025-10-21 |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=VICE}}</ref>

==Further reading==
*[[Automotive digital restrictions management]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Digital rights management]]

File:GoDaddy logo.svg

2026-03-25T02:27:04Z

Noewaeda:

== Licensing ==
{{Fairuse}}

Electronic Arts

2026-03-24T17:30:59Z

Noewaeda: Clarify "open-sourcing"

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American video game developer and publisher.
|Founded=1982
|Industry=Video Games
|Logo=Electronic Arts.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://ea.com/
}}
[[wikipedia:Electronic_Arts|'''Electronic Arts''']] ('''EA''') is a former video-game developer and now publisher founded in 1982 by Trip Hawkins. It is well known for its simulator titles under the ''Sim'' series (''The Sims,'' ''SimCity,'' ''MySims,'' etc.), titles published under its EA Sports division (''Madden,'' ''FIFA,'' etc.), and its ''Battlefield'' series.

EA has received criticism for its reliance on microtransactions, its focus on [[downloadable content]] (DLC), and other business practices that both consumers and the media perceive as excessively unfavorable predatory and anti-consumer.

==Consumer impact summary==

*User freedom: limited; removed capability to play games on 32-bit systems via Origin, extensive abuse of DRM ([[SecuROM]], [[Denuvo]]), monopolization of game genres, orphaned content/game licenses, and more.
*User privacy: questionable; uses kernel-level anti-cheat in many games,<ref>{{Cite web |last=SEgopher |date=Sep 15, 2022 |title=The insanity of EA's anti-cheat system by a Kernel Dev |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/xf1cwr/the_insanity_of_eas_anticheat_system_by_a_kernel/ |access-date=Jun 1, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250803140044/https://old.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/xf1cwr/the_insanity_of_eas_anticheat_system_by_a_kernel/ |archive-date=3 Aug 2025}}</ref> DRM abuse, considerations for advertisements in games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=May 10, 2024 |title=EA is prototyping in-game ads even as we speak |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/10/24153809/ea-in-game-ads-redux |access-date=Jun 1, 2025 |work=The Verge |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124074306/https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/10/24153809/ea-in-game-ads-redux |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Business model: Game sales, [[microtransactions]], DLC, [[Non-fungible tokens|NFTs]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Colp |first=Tyler |date=Nov 3, 2021 |title=EA calls NFT and blockchain games 'the future of our industry' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/ea-calls-nft-and-blockchain-games-the-future-of-our-industry/ |access-date=Jun 1, 2025 |work=PC Gamer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260116010512/https://www.pcgamer.com/ea-calls-nft-and-blockchain-games-the-future-of-our-industry/ |archive-date=16 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Market competition: Extensive; [[Nintendo]], [[Microsoft]]/[[Xbox]], [[Ubisoft]], [[Valve]]

EA has [[EA releases source code of classic command and conquer titles|released the source code of older Command & Conquer games]] in 2025. However, the company continues to have a history of little to no consumer rights.

==Incidents==

===Origin shutdown===
On April 17, 2025, EA shut down the Origin client,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Will |title=EA is ditching Origin, which means you could lose access to your games |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-sims-4/ea-origin-shut-down |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=PCGamesN |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251121113702/https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-sims-4/ea-origin-shut-down |archive-date=21 Nov 2025}}</ref> which was the last option for 32-bit hardware owners to run EA-published titles. While most consumers have switched to 64-bit hardware, the discontinued support for 32-bit hardware signifies that vintage enthusiasts, tech historians, and others users of 32-bit hardware are unable to either install or play the games they have purchased, unless they upgrade to 64-bit hardware.

===Lootboxes===
{{Hatnote|See also: [[Microtransactions]]}}

Multiple games published by EA in recent years have garnered significant controversy over what is essentially legal gambling. This is most commonly seen in EA sports titles and their "''Ultimate Team''" modes, which has players using in-game currency that can be purchased with real-world money to buy card packs, in order to potentially get high-value player cards. This monetization method, considered by many to be "predatory", most notably introduced controversy within the modern release of ''Star Wars Battlefront 2'', wherein the most powerful character in-game, Darth Vader, could only be obtained through this lootbox system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dingman |first=Hayden |date=10 Oct 2017 |title=How loot boxes are turning full-priced PC games into pay-to-win games of chance |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/407482/loot-boxes-ruining-gaming.html |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=PCWorld |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260122024918/https://www.pcworld.com/article/407482/loot-boxes-ruining-gaming.html |archive-date=22 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Purchese |first=Robert |date=10 Oct 2017 |title=Star Wars Battlefront 2 has a loot crate problem |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/star-wars-battlefront-2-has-a-loot-crate-problem |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Robert Purchese |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113073209/https://www.eurogamer.net/star-wars-battlefront-2-has-a-loot-crate-problem |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fahey |first=Rob |date=13 Oct 2017 |title=Thinking outside the loot box |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/thinking-outside-the-loot-box |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Games Industry |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260206121255/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/thinking-outside-the-loot-box |archive-date=6 Feb 2026}}</ref> It was not until several weeks after the backlash that EA would tone down these lootboxes by changing loot pools.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Machkovech |first=Sam |date=1 Nov 2017 |title=Star Wars: Battlefront II changes its loot box plans… but is it enough? |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/10/star-wars-battlefront-ii-changes-its-loot-box-plans-but-is-it-enough/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113052311/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/10/star-wars-battlefront-ii-changes-its-loot-box-plans-but-is-it-enough/ |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=James |date=13 Oct 2017 |title=After beta controversy, DICE has better clarified the 'loot crate' and progression systems in Star Wars Battlefront 2 |url=https://www.vg247.com/after-beta-controversy-dice-has-better-clarified-the-loot-crate-system-in-the-final-version-of-star-wars-battlefront-2 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=VG247 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250905064209/https://www.vg247.com/after-beta-controversy-dice-has-better-clarified-the-loot-crate-system-in-the-final-version-of-star-wars-battlefront-2 |archive-date=5 Sep 2025}}</ref> Lootboxes remained within the title until ''[[Disney]]'' directly instructed EA to stop because of gambling concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Needleman |first=Sarah E. |last2=Fritz |first2=Ben |date=17 Nov 2017 |title=Electronic Arts Pulls Microtransactions From ‘Star Wars Battlefront II’ After Fan Backlash |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/electronic-arts-pulls-microtransactions-from-star-wars-battlefront-ii-after-fan-backlash-1510936871 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=The Wall Street Journal |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251228182703/https://www.wsj.com/articles/electronic-arts-pulls-microtransactions-from-star-wars-battlefront-ii-after-fan-backlash-1510936871 |archive-date=28 Dec 2025}}</ref> 

===DRM===
EA holds the record for most pirated game with the title ''[[Spore (game)|Spore]],'' which was directly because of EA's use of ''[[SecuROM]]'', and was one of the earlier known titles to introduce always-online [[digital rights management]] (DRM).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Modern Vintage Gamer |date=25 Nov 2019 |title=SecuROM - The PC CD-ROM DRM that broke games {{!}} MVG |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8ltfyqD3lM |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=u8ltfyqD3lM |archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref> Some releases of ''Mass Effect'' also used ''[[SecuROM]]'', and would instill excessive limits, such as a three-install limit that both could not be refunded by uninstalling and could only be increased through customer-service calls, and a recurring-validation system that required that the game have its activation code run every 10 days.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=8 May 2008 |title=Mass Effect, Spore To Use Recurring Validation |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/Mass-Effect-Spore-To-Use-Recurring-Validation/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=The Escapist |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251202160156/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/mass-effect-spore-to-use-recurring-validation/ |archive-date=2 Dec 2025}}</ref> While its use of SecuROM died off in the mid-2010s, the company merely switched to DRM that has been far worse for consumers, [[Denuvo]]. One significant EA title that has used this DRM is ''Star Wars: Jedi Survivor.x'' 

===''Spore''===
{{Hatnote|Further reading: ''[[Spore (game)]]''}}

''Spore'' retains a historical 1.7+ million pirated copies,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Molina |first=Andres |date=21 Jun 2024 |title=How many times was Spore pirated? |url=https://www.ncesc.com/gaming-pedia/how-many-times-was-spore-pirated/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=ncesc.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250414054642/https://www.ncesc.com/gaming-pedia/how-many-times-was-spore-pirated/ |archive-date=14 Apr 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Van der Sar |first=Ernesto |date=13 Sep 2008 |title=Spore: Most Pirated Game Ever Thanks to DRM |url=https://torrentfreak.com/spore-most-pirated-game-ever-thanks-to-drm-080913/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=TorrentFreak |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260130152354/https://torrentfreak.com/spore-most-pirated-game-ever-thanks-to-drm-080913/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2026}}</ref> directly related to EA's use of [[SecuROM]].<ref name=":0" /> In more recent years, ''Spore'''s server access was locked down to EA accounts,<ref name=":1">[https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=582350678 How to Connect to Spore Servers (Steam/GOG/EA App)] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260109104720/https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=582350678 Archived])</ref> mostly because of free [[Steam]] key exploit. This has led to various problems for legitimate consumers who wanted to play the iconic game and its sibling ''Darkspore,'' since according to guides,<ref name=":1" /> users could only have a singular install of the game on any device, were required to have an EA account (see also [[Forced account]]) using an alphanumeric password, and needed a CD key to redeem on the user's EA account. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260109104720/https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=582350678 Archived])<ref>[https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002333209-Spore-How-to-get-access-to-online-features?product=gog Spore - How to get access to online features] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250802014736/https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002333209-Spore-How-to-get-access-to-online-features?product=gog Archived])</ref> This has brought concern among the community, leading to community-developed tools to circumvent these server problems.<ref>[https://sporecommunity.com/ Spore Community Hub] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260105100840/https://sporecommunity.com/ Archived])</ref>

===License exclusivity===
With various [[Intellectual property|intellectual properties]], from ''Star Wars''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dolen |first=Rob |date=15 Jan 2021 |title=EA No Longer Has Exclusive Rights to Star Wars, But Is It Too Late? |url=https://gamerant.com/ea-no-longer-star-wars-exclusive-publisher-lucasfilm-games-ubisoft-bethesda/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Game Rant |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251024210316/https://gamerant.com/ea-no-longer-star-wars-exclusive-publisher-lucasfilm-games-ubisoft-bethesda/ |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref> to the NFL, EA has created an artificial monopoly over large genres and major IP of the industry. Its exclusive licenses with various football organizations, such as the AFL and NFL, has resulted in an antitrust lawsuit against it.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20110510050257/http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_documents/0611_nfl_ea_wm.pdf</ref> This lawsuit ended in a $600K settlement, but did not resolve the primary problems caused by EA's exclusive deals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuchera |first=Ben |date=13 Jun 2008 |title=Lawsuit flags EA for illegal procedure on football monopoly |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/06/lawsuit-flags-ea-for-illegal-procedure-on-football-monopoly/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251227210233/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/06/lawsuit-flags-ea-for-illegal-procedure-on-football-monopoly/ |archive-date=27 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kravets |first=David |date=28 Jun 2016 |title=EA punts, gives $600k to former football star in Madden NFL rights flap |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/06/ea-punts-gives-600k-to-former-football-star-in-madden-nfl-rights-flap/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260208100019/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/06/ea-punts-gives-600k-to-former-football-star-in-madden-nfl-rights-flap/ |archive-date=8 Feb 2026}}</ref> NCAA players brought additional lawsuits against EA, alleging that it was not authorized to use their likeness in its games. These suits were also settled out of court.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eder |first=Steve |date=26 Sep 2016 |title=E.A. Sports Settles Lawsuit With College Athletes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/sports/ncaafootball/ea-sports-wont-make-college-video-game-in-2014.html?_r=0 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=The New York Times |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251221151143/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/sports/ncaafootball/ea-sports-wont-make-college-video-game-in-2014.html?_r=0 |archive-date=21 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/dennis-dodd/23859858/ea-sports-settles-likeness-suits-thousands-of-current-former-players-eligible-for-money ([http://web.archive.org/web/20160507131507/http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/dennis-dodd/23859858/ea-sports-settles-likeness-suits-thousands-of-current-former-players-eligible-for-money Archived])</ref>

===Buyouts and closures===
In order for EA to hold its high position, it has been known to buy out its competition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stebbins |first=Samuel |last2=Comen |first2=Evan |last3=Sauter |first3=Michael B. |last4=Stockdale |first4=Charles |date=1 Feb 2018 |title=Bad reputation: America’s Top 20 most-hated companies |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2018/02/01/bad-reputation-americas-top-20-most-hated-companies/1058718001/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230013406/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2018/02/01/bad-reputation-americas-top-20-most-hated-companies/1058718001/ |archive-date=30 Dec 2019 |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Usa Today}}</ref> Often, this has led to the detriment of the companies they buy out,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hsu |first=Tiffany |date=4 Apr 2012 |title=Electronic Arts: ‘Worst company in America’? Consumerist says yes |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-apr-04-la-fi-mo-electronic-arts-worst-company-consumerist-20120404-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Los Angeles Times |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251227051302/https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-apr-04-la-fi-mo-electronic-arts-worst-company-consumerist-20120404-story.html |archive-date=27 Dec 2025}}</ref> and by extension, the media which they release. A historical example, Westwood Studios, which pioneered the RTS genre with the ''Command & Conquer'' series, was shut down about five years after its purchase by EA, and its notable franchise was left abandoned years later, with entries either delisted or broken after GameSpy-based DRM were broken circa 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maiberg |first=Emanuel |date=8 Apr 2014 |title=Reddit compiles terrifying list of games affected by GameSpy shutdown |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/reddit-compiles-terrifying-list-of-games-affected-by-gamespy-shutdown/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=PCGamer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213064431/https://www.pcgamer.com/reddit-compiles-terrifying-list-of-games-affected-by-gamespy-shutdown/ |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref> While its habit of buying and closing studios has thinned since 2008, it similarly closed Visceral Games, the developer of ''Dead Space,'' in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fingas |first=Jon |date=18 Oct 2017 |title=EA shuts down the studio behind 'Dead Space' |url=https://www.engadget.com/2017-10-17-ea-shuts-down-visceral-games.html |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=endgadget |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251003042709/https://www.engadget.com/2017-10-17-ea-shuts-down-visceral-games.html |archive-date=3 Oct 2025}}</ref>

===Switching to in-house kernel-level anti-cheat after purchase===
{{Main|EA moves to in-house kernel-level anti-cheat on PC after purchase}}

EA has implemented a change to the anti-cheat of several games after release including: EA SPORTS WRC, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2, Battlefield 2042, Battlefield V, and Battlefield 1. This change breaks the ability to play the game, even after purchase, on older [[Windows]] versions and alternative operating systems to Windows including Linux and SteamOS. EA refuses to give you a refund for these games.

===Shutting down Anthem===
{{Main|Anthem server shutdown}}
On 3 July, 2025, EA announced that the Anthem servers would be sunset on 12 January, 2026. Since the game was designed to require connection to the Anthem servers, the game would become unplayable following the shutdown of the servers. According to the terms of service that all consumers must agree to in order to play the game, this action by EA to revoke the purchase from the consumer is legal and permissible so long as 30 days notice was provided.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ELECTRONIC ARTS USER AGREEMENT |url=https://tos.ea.com/legalapp/WEBTERMS/US/en/PC/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118092421/http://tos.ea.com/legalapp/WEBTERMS/US/en/PC/ |archive-date=18 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-08-16 |website=tos.ea.com}}</ref>

On 12 January, 2026, the servers were shut down to the dismay of many.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |last=Shepard |first=Kenneth |date=2026-01-13 |title=7 Years Later, BioWare's Anthem Is Dead But It'll Never Be Forgotten |url=https://kotaku.com/anthem-server-shutdown-final-hours-videos-clips-stream-2000659367 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-14 |website=Kotaku |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260114200220/https://kotaku.com/anthem-server-shutdown-final-hours-videos-clips-stream-2000659367 |archive-date=14 Jan 2026}}</ref>

===Battlefield 6===
{{Main|EA requires open beta players of battlefield 6 to change their motherboard bios settings}}
The open beta of Battlefield 6 imposes strict requirements on the computer hardware people use to play the game, which caused discontent among the player base.

===The Sims 4 Maker Program===
On March 3rd 2026, EA announced The Sims Maker Program<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-03 |title=The Sims Maker Program |url=https://www.ea.com/games/the-sims/maker-program |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260310180351/https://www.ea.com/games/the-sims/the-sims-4/news/the-sims-maker-program-and-marketplace |archive-date=2026-03-10 |access-date=2026-03-14 |website=EA.com}}</ref>, allowing independent custom content creators to publish and sell their works through The Sims 4 Marketplace. With this change, the company introduced [[microtransactions]] into the game, and the actual creators make only 30% of revenue, remaining 70% going into EA. At the same time, their official mod policy<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-25 |title=The Sims 4 Policy on Mods |url=https://help.ea.com/en/articles/the-sims/the-sims-4/mods-policy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260310135202/https://help.ea.com/en/articles/the-sims/the-sims-4/mods-policy/ |archive-date=2026-03-10 |access-date=2026-03-14 |website=EA.com}}</ref> (presumably for unaffiliated creators) mandates that "Mods must be non-commercial and distributed free of charge".

==Positive incidents==

===Release of Command & Conquer source code (2025)===
{{Main|EA releases source code of classic command and conquer titles}}
In February 2025, EA worked with C&C community members to open source four Command & Conquer games under the GPLv3 license, in a move widely celebrated by the gaming community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Feb 2025 |title=EA Open Sources Command and Conquer: Red Alert, along with other games |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43197131 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=HackerNews |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708165349/https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43197131 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudra |first=Sourav |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=Unbelievable! EA Open Sources 4 Command & Conquer Games |url=https://news.itsfoss.com/ea-open-source-cc-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=It's FOSS News |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250811112138/https://news.itsfoss.com/ea-open-source-cc-games/ |archive-date=11 Aug 2025}}</ref> Despite this good measure, the only content available to consumers via these repositories is exclusively the code, and the only way to compile the source code continues to require ownership of a copy of the respective Command & Conquer in order to supply any assets. If any entry in the series were to be delisted again, their respective source code repository is rendered moot for anyone who did not already hold a license.

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Talk:Mozilla

2026-03-22T21:43:38Z

Noewaeda: /* Changes to the "Alternatives" section */ new section

== Changes to the "Alternatives" section ==

[[Mozilla#Alternatives|This section]] seems a bit out of place for this page, and contains some similar information to the [[Firefox]] article.

Maybe it could be moved to that article instead? [[User:Noewaeda|Noewaeda]] ([[User talk:Noewaeda|talk]]) 21:43, 22 March 2026 (UTC)

Visual Studio Code

2026-02-05T04:07:29Z

Noewaeda: Fix typo

{{Stub}}
{{ProductCargo
|Company=Microsoft
|ReleaseYear=2015
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Software
|Website=https://code.visualstudio.com
|Logo=Visual Studio Code logo.svg}}

'''[[wikipedia:Visual Studio Code|Visual Studio Code]]''' is an integrated development environment developed by [[Microsoft]] for [[Windows]], Linux, macOS and web browsers.

==Consumer impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}

===Freedom===
The Source Code is available on GitHub under the MIT License.

However, the binaries published by Microsoft are proprietary under the "Microsoft Software License" and ships with closed-source modifications.

Alternate fully open source forks exists like [https://vscodium.com/ VS Codium].

===Market Control===
Visual Studio Code (Also known as VS Code) is widely used upon. with over 50 million developers using it as of May 15th, 2025<ref>https://developer.microsoft.com/blog/celebrating-50-million-developers-the-journey-of-visual-studio-and-visual-studio-code</ref>, But the control varies, Due to the software being open-source, Users may switch to other forks, such as previously mentioned '[https://vscodium.com/ VS Codium]', If they are not happy with Visual Studio Code's features.

==Incidents==

===Telemetry enabled by default===
Microsoft's proprietary build sends telemetry data by default<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telemetry |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/configure/telemetry |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251219092557/https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/configure/telemetry |archive-date=19 Dec 2025 |website=VS Code Documentation}}</ref> which goes under [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/privacystatement Microsoft's Privacy Statement]. It has to be disabled manually by setting <code>telemetry.telemetryLevel</code> to <code>off</code> in the user settings.

===Blocking extensions for third-party forks===
In April 2025, Microsoft pushed an update to the "C/C++" extension for Visual Studio Code that introduced functionality to entirely disable the extension under the condition that it was running inside of a third-party fork of the editor<ref>{{Cite news |last=Claburn |first=Thomas |date=2025-04-24 |title=Devs sound alarm after Microsoft subtracts C/C++ extension from VS Code forks |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/24/microsoft_vs_code_subtracts_cc_extension/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/8SLdN |archive-date=25 Apr 2025 |work=The Register}}</ref>, displaying an error that says:

"The C/C++ extension may be used only with Microsoft Visual Studio, Visual Studio for Mac, Visual Studio Code, Azure DevOps, Team Foundation Server, and successor Microsoft products and services to develop and test your applications."<ref>{{Cite web |title=VSCodium issues |url=https://github.com/VSCodium/vscodium/issues/2300 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405162831/https://github.com/VSCodium/vscodium/issues/2300 |archive-date=5 Apr 2025 |website="Microsoft C/C++ Extension appears to no longer support unofficial forks of VS Code"}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cursor issues |url=https://github.com/cursor/cursor/issues/2976 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250625115317/https://github.com/cursor/cursor/issues/2976 |archive-date=25 Jun 2025 |website="Has the VSCode C/C++ Extension been blocked?"}}</ref>

==See also==

*

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Visual Studio Code

2025-11-06T04:32:09Z

Noewaeda: Expand the "Blocking extensions for third-party forks" section.

{{Stub}}
{{ProductCargo
|Company=Microsoft
|ReleaseYear=2015
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Software
|Website=https://code.visualstudio.com
|Logo=Visual-studio-code.png}}

'''[[wikipedia:Visual Studio Code|Visual Studio Code]]''' is an integrated development environment developed by Microsoft for Windows, Linux, macOS and web browsers.

==Consumer impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
====Freedom====
The Source Code is available on GitHub under the MIT License.

However, the binaries published by Microsoft are proprietary under the "Microsoft Software License" and ships with closed-source modifications.

Alternate fully open source forks exists like [https://vscodium.com/ VS Codium].

==Incidents==

===Telemetry enabled by default===
Microsoft's proprietary build sends telemetry data by default<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telemetry |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/configure/telemetry |url-status=live |website=VS Code Documentation}}</ref> which goes under [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/privacystatement Microsoft's Privacy Statement]. It has to be disabled manually by setting <code>telemetry.telemetryLevel</code> to <code>off</code> in the user settings.

===Blocking extensions for third-party forks===
In April 2025, Microsoft pushed an update to the "C/C++" extension for Visual Studio Code that introduced functionality to entirely disable the extension under the condition that it was running inside of a third-party fork of the editor<ref>{{Cite news |last=Claburn |first=Thomas |date=2025-04-24 |title=Devs sound alarm after Microsoft subtracts C/C++ extension from VS Code forks |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/24/microsoft_vs_code_subtracts_cc_extension/ |url-status=live |work=The Register}}</ref>, displaying an error that says:

"The C/C++ extension may be used only with Microsoft Visual Studio, Visual Studio for Mac, Visual Studio Code, Azure DevOps, Team Foundation Server, and successor Microsoft products and services to develop and test your applications."<ref>{{Cite web |title=VSCodium issues |url=https://github.com/VSCodium/vscodium/issues/2300 |website="Microsoft C/C++ Extension appears to no longer support unofficial forks of VS Code"}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cursor issues |url=https://github.com/cursor/cursor/issues/2976 |website="Has the VSCode C/C++ Extension been blocked?"}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Microsoft]]
*[[Microsoft's anticompetitive practices]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]