Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Google Maps

2026-06-15T10:36:37Z

SinexTitan: words are weapons

{{Incomplete}}
{{ProductCargo|ArticleType=Service|Category=|Company=Google|Description=|InProduction=Yes|Logo=Google Maps logo.svg|ProductLine=|ReleaseYear=2005|Website=https://www.google.com/maps}}

'''{{Wplink|Google Maps}}''' is a web mapping platform developed by [[Google]]. It was first unveiled on 08 February, 2005. Since then it has become the one of the largest mapping platforms and the most popular.{{Citation needed}}

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

==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]].

===Restricting access without an account===
Google now restricts data visible on Google Maps behind an account sign-in (see [[Forced account]]). Requiring users that wish to view reviews or photos of a location to have a Google account and be signed in.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gunther |first=Cory |date=2026-02-19 |title=Google Maps will make you sign in to get its best features |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/google-maps-is-now-hiding-reviews-and-more-unless-you-sign-in/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260605113429/https://www.howtogeek.com/google-maps-is-now-hiding-reviews-and-more-unless-you-sign-in/ |archive-date=2026-06-05 |access-date=2026-06-05 |website=How-To Geek}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Mr-MuffinMan |date=2026-02-17 |title=Can't view images without logging in? |url=https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/1r74v0f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260605114410/https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/1r74v0f |archive-date=2026-06-05 |access-date=2026-06-05 |website=Redlib}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/jogetgemoy69 |date=2026-02-14 |title=Google Maps now forces you to sign-in |url=https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/1r4iauf/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260605114524/https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/1r4iauf/ |archive-date=2026-06-05 |access-date=2026-06-05 |website=Redlib}}</ref> This also forces users to agree to Google's TOS and data collection policies. Which is then aggregated with data from other Google services, such as YouTube and Google Search, and then sold to advertisers through the Google Adsense program to deliver targeted ads to customers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-04 |title=Google and YouTube Will Pay Record $170 Million for Alleged Violations of Children’s Privacy Law |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/09/google-youtube-will-pay-record-170-million-alleged-violations-childrens-privacy-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260605113905/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/09/google-youtube-will-pay-record-170-million-alleged-violations-childrens-privacy-law |archive-date=2026-06-05 |access-date=2026-06-05 |website=Federal Trade Commission}}</ref>

===Example incident two (''date'')===
...

==Customer friendly alternatives==

*[https://www.openstreetmap.org/ OpenStreetMap]

==See also==
*[[Apple Maps]]
*[[Waze]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Chat Control

2026-06-08T13:50:10Z

SinexTitan: date format

{{Stub}}
{{IncidentCargo
|Status=Active
|Type=Surveillance, Privacy
}}
In 2021, the EU passed the Regulation (EU) [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1232/oj 2021/1232] ('''"Chat Control 1.0"''') on a temporary derogation from certain provisions of ePrivacy Directive [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2002/58/oj 2002/58/EC] (''ePD'') allowing providers to scan communications indiscriminately if they choose so.

So far, only unencrypted US communication services make use of these provisions. In March 2026, the European Parliament rejected a second extension of the regulation – the temporary directive provisions expired on the 03 April 2026. However [[Google]], [[Meta]], [[Microsoft]] and [[Snap]] announced that they will continue indiscriminate and warrentless scanning of private messages.<ref>[https://www.patrick-breyer.de/en/posts/chat-control/ Chat Control: The EU’s CSAM scanner proposal – Patrick Breyer]</ref>

On 11 May 2022 the European Commission presented a proposal ('''"Chat Control 2.0"''') which would have made chat control searching mandatory for all e-mail and messenger providers and would even have applied to so far securely end-to-end encrypted communication services. The regulation is expected to be adopted in July 2026, with possible amendments.{{UpdateNeeded|reason=Current status uncertain|date=May 2026}}

==Chat Control 2.0==
The '''Regulation to Prevent and Combat Child Sexual Abuse''' ('''Child Sexual Abuse Regulation''', or '''CSAR'''), or most commonly known as '''Chat Control''', is a proposed European Union regulation that aims to combat {{wplink|Child pornography|child sexual abuse material}} (CSAM) through mass surveillance by digital platforms.

By virtue of the legistation, all platforms would legally be required to surveil all private digital communications, thus nullifying the efficacy of {{wplink|End-to-end_encryption|end-to-end encryption}} (E2EE) and violating fundamental rights to privacy.

On February 26, 2026, the first negotiations of Chat Control begun. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Today, the final negotiations on Chat Control 2.0 begin. |url=https://mastodon.online/@mullvadnet/116137711661598894 |url-status=live |date=26 Feb 2026 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/fahub |archive-date=7 Apr 2026}}</ref>

==Background==
The legislation was proposed by the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson on 11 May 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2022%3A209%3AFIN |url-status=live |date=11 May 2022}}</ref>

The European Commission was found to be targeting people in the Netherlands to sway them in favor of chat control.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-13 |title=Political Microtargeting by EU Commission illegal |url=https://noyb.eu/en/political-microtargeting-eu-commission-illegal |url-status=live |access-date=2026-06-08 |website=noyb}}</ref>

==Consumer response==
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) jointly warned on 29 July 2022 that the proposal may present more risks than benefits.
<blockquote>The EDPB and EDPS consider that the Proposal, in its current form, may present more risks to individuals, and, by extension, to society at large, than to the criminals pursued for CSAM.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Proposal to combat child sexual abuse online presents serious risks for fundamental rights |url=https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2022/proposal-combat-child-sexual-abuse-online-presents-serious-risks-fundamental-rights_en |url-status=live |date=29 July 2022 |website=Europa}}</ref></blockquote>

Numerous digital rights organizations, including European Digital Rights (EDRi), and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), have criticized the legislation as incompatible with secure encryption and proportionality requirements under EU law.

<blockquote>Critics declare this form of preemptive mass surveillance not only a threat to privacy, (cyber)security and the right to freedom of expression but as danger to democracy in general.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why chat control is so dangerous |url=https://edri.org/our-work/why-chat-control-is-so-dangerous/ |url-status=live |date=17 Nov 2021 |website=Edri}}</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>Chat Control is chat surveillance and functions by having access to everything on a device with indiscriminate monitoring of everything.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chat Control is Back on the Menu in the EU. It Still Must Be Stopped |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/09/chat-control-back-menu-eu-it-still-must-be-stopped-0 |url-status=live |date=29 Sep 2025 |website=Eff}}</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>Many proposals earlier this year required the scanning and detection of illicit content on all services, including private messaging apps such as [[WhatsApp]] and [[Signal]]. This requirement would fundamentally break end-to-end encryption.<ref>{{Cite web |title=After Years of Controversy, the EU's Chat Control Nears Its Final Hurdle: What to Know |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/12/after-years-controversy-eus-chat-control-nears-its-final-hurdle-what-know |url-status=live |date=3 Dec 2025 |website=Eff}}</ref></blockquote>

Academic criticism has also focused on the technical feasibility and constitutional implications of mandatory client-side scanning.

<blockquote>We find that [Client-Side Scanning] CSS is problematic because they can rarely fulfil their purposes, as seen with antivirus software. [...] We also find that CSS in general would likely violate the Right to a Fair Trial, Right to Privacy and Freedom of Expression.<ref>{{Cite web |title=YASM (Yet Another Surveillance Mechanism) |url=https://arxiv.org/abs/2205.14601 |url-status=live |date=29 May 2022 |website=Arxiv, Cornell University}}</ref></blockquote>

==See also==
*[https://fightchatcontrol.eu/ Fight Chat Control - Protect Digital Privacy in the EU]
*[[Age verification]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Surveillance]]
[[Category:European Union]]
[[Category:EU legislation]]

TCL

2026-06-08T13:46:47Z

SinexTitan: tone warning

{{Incomplete}}
{{ToneWarning}}
{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 1981
| Industry = Electronics, Phones, TVs, Home appliances, Finance
| Logo = Logo of the TCL Corporation.svg
| Type = Public
| Website = https://www.tcl.com/
| CompanyAlias = TCL, TCL Technology Group Corp, TCL Corporation, TCL Technology
}}

'''{{wplink|TCL Technology|TCL Technology Group Corp}}''' is a Chinese partially [[wikipedia:State-owned_enterprise|state-owned]] electronics company headquartered in Huizhou, Guangdong province. TCL develops, manufactures, and sells consumer electronics like television sets, mobile phones, air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, and small electrical appliances.

==Consumer-impact summary==
*'''User freedom''': TCL [[List of phones that do not allow bootloader unlock|phones have locked bootloaders]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lost-Entrepreneur439 |date=2024-11-18 |title=Bootloader Unlock Wall of Shame: TCL / BlackBerry |url=https://github.com/zenfyrdev/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame/blob/aa5ba6136153440d6f45509dfa67d79682800b2c/brands/tcl/README.md |url-status=live |website=[[GitHub]]}}</ref>
*'''User privacy''': According to their privacy policy, they will share some telemetry with 3rd-parties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TCL Privacy Notice for Business Customers and Partners |url=https://www.tcl.com/global/en/commercial-display/privacy-notice#disclosure-of-your-information-to-third-parties |url-status=live}}</ref>
*'''User experience''': Some of their electronic products, especially [[Android]] phones, have many [[wikipedia:Software_bug|bugs]].<ref name=":0" /> Some bugs are very disruptive, such as screens "randomly" turning off when brightness is low.<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Rudxain |date=2026-03-22 |title=TCL 505 here, still Android 14. You're right about bugs, the screen "randomly" turns off when the brightness is "low" (even 50% is considered low). It's coded to turn off the backlight when the hardware (not Android) brightness goes below 0, and it's also coded to decrease the brightness if the image is "dark". A black image with small white spots is considered "darker" than a pitch black image, so I can't watch some 3blue1brown videos in peace 🥲

TCL is a scam, worse than zamzung, I'd dare to say. I'm gonna boycott them till I die or they get sued |url=https://reddit.com/r/nxtpaper/comments/1nckzv5/comment/obv34b6}}</ref>
*'''Market control''': In 2010, it was the world's 25th-largest consumer electronics producer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=David |date=2019-11-24 |title=TCL Set To Be A Major Global CE & Smartphone Brand, Roadmap Revealed |url=https://www.channelnews.com.au/tcl-set-to-be-a-major-global-ce-smartphone-brand-roadmap-revealed/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> It was the second-largest television manufacturer by market share in 2022 and 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pr |first=Ani |date=2024-03-13 |title=TCL Ranked as Global Top 2 TV Brand and No. 1 in 98 TV Category for Two Consecutive Years |url=https://theprint.in/ani-press-releases/tcl-ranked-as-global-top-2-tv-brand-and-no-1-in-98-tv-category-for-two-consecutive-years/1999228/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

==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:TCL|TCL category]].

===Sued by Texas state over ACR data collection (''2025—Present):''===
{{Main|Texas Attorney General sues multiple TV makers over ACR user data collection}}
On 15 December 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against TCL,<ref name="petition-tcl">{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2025 |title=State of Texas v. TCL Technology Group Corporation, Original Petition |url=https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/TCL%20TV%20Petition%20Filed.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251228061950/https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/TCL%20TV%20Petition%20Filed.pdf |archive-date=28 Dec 2025 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |publisher=Office of the Texas Attorney General |format=PDF}}</ref> alleging that the manufacturer failed to adequately disclose the data collection capabilities of {{Wplink|automatic content recognition}} (ACR) technology in their smart televisions,<ref name="arstechnica">{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2025 |title=Texas sues biggest TV makers, alleging smart TVs spy on users without consent |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/texas-sues-biggest-tv-makers-alleging-smart-tvs-spy-on-users-without-consent/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251228170241/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/texas-sues-biggest-tv-makers-alleging-smart-tvs-spy-on-users-without-consent/ |archive-date=28 Dec 2025 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |publisher=Ars Technica}}</ref> The lawsuit, filed under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, allege that ACR technology captures screenshots of television displays at frequent intervals and that the resulting viewing data is sold to advertisers and data brokers without meaningful consumer consent.<ref name="txag-main">{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2025 |title=Attorney General Paxton Sues Five Major TV Companies, Including Some with Ties to CCP, for Spying on Texans |url=https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-paxton-sues-five-major-tv-companies-including-some-ties-ccp-spying-texans |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260123003535/https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-paxton-sues-five-major-tv-companies-including-some-ties-ccp-spying-texans |archive-date=23 Jan 2026 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |publisher=Office of the Texas Attorney General}}</ref>

===Misleading marketing of QLED TVs (2026)===
<blockquote>The second-largest TV maker has to stop calling its QLED TV sets that, as [[Samsung]] cries foul. The misleading advertising claims that TCL TVs use quantum dot technology, but the courts disagree.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zlatev |first=Daniel |date=2026-03-05 |title=TCL can't advertise TVs as QLED since they lack in quantum dots and color accuracy |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/TCL-can-t-advertise-TVs-as-QLED-since-they-lack-in-quantum-dots-and-color-accuracy.1243552.0.html |url-status=live |website=Notebookcheck}}</ref></blockquote>

===Broken promises of software updates===
For several years, TCL has failed to fulfill their promise of upgrading many Android phones. So much so that they're blatantly lying about the [[wikipedia:Estimated_time_of_arrival|ETA]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=u/SoheilBalini |date=2025-09-09 |title=TCL update policy |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/nxtpaper/comments/1nckzv5/tcl_update_policy |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Non-compliance with software licenses===
TCL refuses to make most of its firmware publicly available. This breaks a [[Google]] contract, and may violate [[wikipedia:GNU_General_Public_License|GPL]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-10 |title=TCL has been actively ignoring my firmware requests |url=https://reddit.com/r/Android/comments/vvnuq6/tcl_has_been_actively_ignoring_my_firmware |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Leaking app names===
Some TCL phones store "full-screen" preferences for each app in the system-wide settings database. This allows ''any'' app (even without <code>[https://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission#QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES]</code>) installed on the phone to get a partial (but almost complete) list of installed apps, including ''uninstalled ones'', as the system doesn't clear old preferences.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fernández Serrata |first=Ricardo |date=2026-06-03 |title=Android support? |url=https://github.com/undergroundwires/privacy.sexy/issues/324#issuecomment-4609170073 |access-date=2026-06-08 |website=GitHub}}</ref> This is a case of data protection negligence.

==See also==
*[[LG Television sale of personal data]]
*[[Samsung]]
*[[Samsung TVs]]
*[[Vizio]]

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

TCL

2026-06-08T13:43:58Z

SinexTitan: still borked huh?

{{Incomplete}}
{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 1981
| Industry = Electronics,Phones,TVs,Home appliances,Finance
| Logo = Logo of the TCL Corporation.svg
| Type = Public
| Website = https://www.tcl.com/
| CompanyAlias = TCL,TCL Technology Group Corp,TCL Corporation,TCL Technology
}}
'''[[wikipedia:TCL_Technology|TCL Technology]] Group Corp''' is a Chinese partially [[wikipedia:State-owned_enterprise|state-owned]] electronics company headquartered in Huizhou, Guangdong province. TCL develops, manufactures, and sells consumer electronics like television sets, mobile phones, air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, and small electrical appliances.

==Consumer-impact summary==
*'''User freedom''': TCL [[List of phones that do not allow bootloader unlock|phones have locked bootloaders]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lost-Entrepreneur439 |date=2024-11-18 |title=Bootloader Unlock Wall of Shame: TCL / BlackBerry |url=https://github.com/zenfyrdev/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame/blob/aa5ba6136153440d6f45509dfa67d79682800b2c/brands/tcl/README.md |url-status=live |website=[[GitHub]]}}</ref>
*'''User privacy''': According to their privacy policy, they will share some telemetry with 3rd-parties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TCL Privacy Notice for Business Customers and Partners |url=https://www.tcl.com/global/en/commercial-display/privacy-notice#disclosure-of-your-information-to-third-parties |url-status=live}}</ref>
*'''User experience''': Some of their electronic products, especially [[Android]] phones, have many [[wikipedia:Software_bug|bugs]].<ref name=":0" /> Some bugs are very disruptive, such as screens "randomly" turning off when brightness is low.<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Rudxain |date=2026-03-22 |title=TCL 505 here, still Android 14. You're right about bugs, the screen "randomly" turns off when the brightness is "low" (even 50% is considered low). It's coded to turn off the backlight when the hardware (not Android) brightness goes below 0, and it's also coded to decrease the brightness if the image is "dark". A black image with small white spots is considered "darker" than a pitch black image, so I can't watch some 3blue1brown videos in peace 🥲

TCL is a scam, worse than zamzung, I'd dare to say. I'm gonna boycott them till I die or they get sued |url=https://reddit.com/r/nxtpaper/comments/1nckzv5/comment/obv34b6}}</ref>
*'''Market control''': In 2010, it was the world's 25th-largest consumer electronics producer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=David |date=2019-11-24 |title=TCL Set To Be A Major Global CE & Smartphone Brand, Roadmap Revealed |url=https://www.channelnews.com.au/tcl-set-to-be-a-major-global-ce-smartphone-brand-roadmap-revealed/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> It was the second-largest television manufacturer by market share in 2022 and 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pr |first=Ani |date=2024-03-13 |title=TCL Ranked as Global Top 2 TV Brand and No. 1 in 98 TV Category for Two Consecutive Years |url=https://theprint.in/ani-press-releases/tcl-ranked-as-global-top-2-tv-brand-and-no-1-in-98-tv-category-for-two-consecutive-years/1999228/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

==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:TCL|TCL category]].

=== Sued by Texas state over ACR data collection (''2025—Present):'' ===
{{Main|Texas Attorney General sues multiple TV makers over ACR user data collection}}
On 15 December 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against TCL,<ref name="petition-tcl">{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2025 |title=State of Texas v. TCL Technology Group Corporation, Original Petition |url=https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/TCL%20TV%20Petition%20Filed.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251228061950/https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/TCL%20TV%20Petition%20Filed.pdf |archive-date=28 Dec 2025 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |publisher=Office of the Texas Attorney General |format=PDF}}</ref> alleging that the manufacturer failed to adequately disclose the data collection capabilities of {{Wplink|automatic content recognition}} (ACR) technology in their smart televisions,<ref name="arstechnica">{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2025 |title=Texas sues biggest TV makers, alleging smart TVs spy on users without consent |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/texas-sues-biggest-tv-makers-alleging-smart-tvs-spy-on-users-without-consent/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251228170241/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/texas-sues-biggest-tv-makers-alleging-smart-tvs-spy-on-users-without-consent/ |archive-date=28 Dec 2025 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |publisher=Ars Technica}}</ref> The lawsuit, filed under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, allege that ACR technology captures screenshots of television displays at frequent intervals and that the resulting viewing data is sold to advertisers and data brokers without meaningful consumer consent.<ref name="txag-main">{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2025 |title=Attorney General Paxton Sues Five Major TV Companies, Including Some with Ties to CCP, for Spying on Texans |url=https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-paxton-sues-five-major-tv-companies-including-some-ties-ccp-spying-texans |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260123003535/https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-paxton-sues-five-major-tv-companies-including-some-ties-ccp-spying-texans |archive-date=23 Jan 2026 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |publisher=Office of the Texas Attorney General}}</ref>

===Misleading marketing of QLED TVs (2026)===
<blockquote>The second-largest TV maker has to stop calling its QLED TV sets that, as [[Samsung]] cries foul. The misleading advertising claims that TCL TVs use quantum dot technology, but the courts disagree.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zlatev |first=Daniel |date=2026-03-05 |title=TCL can't advertise TVs as QLED since they lack in quantum dots and color accuracy |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/TCL-can-t-advertise-TVs-as-QLED-since-they-lack-in-quantum-dots-and-color-accuracy.1243552.0.html |url-status=live |website=Notebookcheck}}</ref></blockquote>

===Broken promises of software updates===
For several years, TCL has failed to fulfill their promise of upgrading many Android phones. So much so that they're blatantly lying about the [[wikipedia:Estimated_time_of_arrival|ETA]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=u/SoheilBalini |date=2025-09-09 |title=TCL update policy |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/nxtpaper/comments/1nckzv5/tcl_update_policy |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Non-compliance with software licenses===
TCL refuses to make most of its firmware publicly available. This breaks a [[Google]] contract, and may violate [[wikipedia:GNU_General_Public_License|GPL]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-10 |title=TCL has been actively ignoring my firmware requests |url=https://reddit.com/r/Android/comments/vvnuq6/tcl_has_been_actively_ignoring_my_firmware |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Leaking app names===
Some TCL phones store "full-screen" preferences for each app in the system-wide settings database. This allows ''any'' app (even without <code>[https://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission#QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES]</code>) installed on the phone to get a partial (but almost complete) list of installed apps, including ''uninstalled ones'', as the system doesn't clear old preferences.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fernández Serrata |first=Ricardo |date=2026-06-03 |title=Android support? |url=https://github.com/undergroundwires/privacy.sexy/issues/324#issuecomment-4609170073 |access-date=2026-06-08 |website=GitHub}}</ref> This is a case of data protection negligence.

==See also==
*[[LG Television sale of personal data]]
*[[Samsung]]
*[[Samsung TVs]]
*[[Vizio]]

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

TCL

2026-06-08T13:43:25Z

SinexTitan: ACR

{{Incomplete}}
{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 1981
| Industry = Electronics,Phones,TVs,Home appliances,Finance
| Logo = Logo of the TCL Corporation.svg
| Type = Public
| Website = https://www.tcl.com/
| CompanyAlias = TCL,TCL Technology Group Corp,TCL Corporation,TCL Technology
}}
'''[[wikipedia:TCL_Technology|TCL Technology]] Group Corp''' is a Chinese partially [[wikipedia:State-owned_enterprise|state-owned]] electronics company headquartered in Huizhou, Guangdong province. TCL develops, manufactures, and sells consumer electronics like television sets, mobile phones, air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, and small electrical appliances.

==Consumer-impact summary==
*'''User freedom''': TCL [[List of phones that do not allow bootloader unlock|phones have locked bootloaders]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lost-Entrepreneur439 |date=2024-11-18 |title=Bootloader Unlock Wall of Shame: TCL / BlackBerry |url=https://github.com/zenfyrdev/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame/blob/aa5ba6136153440d6f45509dfa67d79682800b2c/brands/tcl/README.md |url-status=live |website=[[GitHub]]}}</ref>
*'''User privacy''': According to their privacy policy, they will share some telemetry with 3rd-parties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TCL Privacy Notice for Business Customers and Partners |url=https://www.tcl.com/global/en/commercial-display/privacy-notice#disclosure-of-your-information-to-third-parties |url-status=live}}</ref>
*'''User experience''': Some of their electronic products, especially [[Android]] phones, have many [[wikipedia:Software_bug|bugs]].<ref name=":0" /> Some bugs are very disruptive, such as screens "randomly" turning off when brightness is low.<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Rudxain |date=2026-03-22 |title=TCL 505 here, still Android 14. You're right about bugs, the screen "randomly" turns off when the brightness is "low" (even 50% is considered low). It's coded to turn off the backlight when the hardware (not Android) brightness goes below 0, and it's also coded to decrease the brightness if the image is "dark". A black image with small white spots is considered "darker" than a pitch black image, so I can't watch some 3blue1brown videos in peace 🥲

TCL is a scam, worse than zamzung, I'd dare to say. I'm gonna boycott them till I die or they get sued |url=https://reddit.com/r/nxtpaper/comments/1nckzv5/comment/obv34b6}}</ref>
*'''Market control''': In 2010, it was the world's 25th-largest consumer electronics producer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=David |date=2019-11-24 |title=TCL Set To Be A Major Global CE & Smartphone Brand, Roadmap Revealed |url=https://www.channelnews.com.au/tcl-set-to-be-a-major-global-ce-smartphone-brand-roadmap-revealed/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> It was the second-largest television manufacturer by market share in 2022 and 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pr |first=Ani |date=2024-03-13 |title=TCL Ranked as Global Top 2 TV Brand and No. 1 in 98 TV Category for Two Consecutive Years |url=https://theprint.in/ani-press-releases/tcl-ranked-as-global-top-2-tv-brand-and-no-1-in-98-tv-category-for-two-consecutive-years/1999228/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

==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:TCL|TCL category]].

=== Sued by Texas state over ACR data collection (''2025—Present):'' ===
{{Main|Texas Attorney General sues multiple TV makers over ACR user data collection}}On 15 December 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against TCL,<ref name="petition-tcl">{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2025 |title=State of Texas v. TCL Technology Group Corporation, Original Petition |url=https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/TCL%20TV%20Petition%20Filed.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251228061950/https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/TCL%20TV%20Petition%20Filed.pdf |archive-date=28 Dec 2025 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |publisher=Office of the Texas Attorney General |format=PDF}}</ref> alleging that the manufacturer failed to adequately disclose the data collection capabilities of {{Wplink|automatic content recognition}} (ACR) technology in their smart televisions,<ref name="arstechnica">{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2025 |title=Texas sues biggest TV makers, alleging smart TVs spy on users without consent |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/texas-sues-biggest-tv-makers-alleging-smart-tvs-spy-on-users-without-consent/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251228170241/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/texas-sues-biggest-tv-makers-alleging-smart-tvs-spy-on-users-without-consent/ |archive-date=28 Dec 2025 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |publisher=Ars Technica}}</ref> The lawsuit, filed under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, allege that ACR technology captures screenshots of television displays at frequent intervals and that the resulting viewing data is sold to advertisers and data brokers without meaningful consumer consent.<ref name="txag-main">{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2025 |title=Attorney General Paxton Sues Five Major TV Companies, Including Some with Ties to CCP, for Spying on Texans |url=https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-paxton-sues-five-major-tv-companies-including-some-ties-ccp-spying-texans |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260123003535/https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-paxton-sues-five-major-tv-companies-including-some-ties-ccp-spying-texans |archive-date=23 Jan 2026 |access-date=January 21, 2026 |publisher=Office of the Texas Attorney General}}</ref>

===Misleading marketing of QLED TVs (2026)===
<blockquote>The second-largest TV maker has to stop calling its QLED TV sets that, as [[Samsung]] cries foul. The misleading advertising claims that TCL TVs use quantum dot technology, but the courts disagree.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zlatev |first=Daniel |date=2026-03-05 |title=TCL can't advertise TVs as QLED since they lack in quantum dots and color accuracy |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/TCL-can-t-advertise-TVs-as-QLED-since-they-lack-in-quantum-dots-and-color-accuracy.1243552.0.html |url-status=live |website=Notebookcheck}}</ref></blockquote>

===Broken promises of software updates===
For several years, TCL has failed to fulfill their promise of upgrading many Android phones. So much so that they're blatantly lying about the [[wikipedia:Estimated_time_of_arrival|ETA]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=u/SoheilBalini |date=2025-09-09 |title=TCL update policy |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/nxtpaper/comments/1nckzv5/tcl_update_policy |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Non-compliance with software licenses===
TCL refuses to make most of its firmware publicly available. This breaks a [[Google]] contract, and may violate [[wikipedia:GNU_General_Public_License|GPL]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-10 |title=TCL has been actively ignoring my firmware requests |url=https://reddit.com/r/Android/comments/vvnuq6/tcl_has_been_actively_ignoring_my_firmware |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Leaking app names===
Some TCL phones store "full-screen" preferences for each app in the system-wide settings database. This allows ''any'' app (even without <code>[https://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission#QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES]</code>) installed on the phone to get a partial (but almost complete) list of installed apps, including ''uninstalled ones'', as the system doesn't clear old preferences.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fernández Serrata |first=Ricardo |date=2026-06-03 |title=Android support? |url=https://github.com/undergroundwires/privacy.sexy/issues/324#issuecomment-4609170073 |access-date=2026-06-08 |website=GitHub}}</ref> This is a case of data protection negligence.

==See also==
*[[LG Television sale of personal data]]
*[[Samsung]]
*[[Samsung TVs]]
*[[Vizio]]

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

Framework

2026-06-05T12:20:10Z

SinexTitan: old mc'corpo had a nemesis, IA IA omfg

{{CompanyCargo
| Description =
| Founded = 2020-01
| Industry = Computer Hardware
| Logo = Framework Computer logo.svg
| ParentCompany =
| Type = Private
| Website = https://frame.work
}}

'''{{wplink|Framework Computer|Framework Computer, Inc.}}''' is an American personal computer manufacturer. It was founded in January 2020, by current CEO Nirav Patel. The company specializes in customization and repairability, the latter also helping the environment through making less laptops needing to be thrown out.

==Consumer impact summary==
===User freedom===
As a result of their products being highly modular and Framework not utilizing {{wplink|Right to repair#Software|parts pairing}}, consumers can heavily customize devices to their liking. Framework also offers DIY editions of their products which offers consumers the option to utilize their own sourced memory, storage and operating system. Framework laptops are also compatible with experimental RISC-V open architecture CPUs.<ref> {{Cite web |last=Geerling |first=Jeff |date=8 Dec 2025 |title=The DC-ROMA II is the fastest RISC-V laptop and is odd |url=https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/dc-roma-ii-fastest-risc-v-laptop-and-odd/ |access-date=9 Mar 2026 |website=Jeff Geerling’s Blog}}</ref>

===User privacy===
As Framework sells solely the hardware and not the software, it doesn't need any more information than is necessary. The Framework team have shown interest in implementing open source firmware such as a variant of Coreboot into their laptops.<ref> https://community.frame.work/t/responded-coreboot-on-the-framework-laptop/791</ref>


===Transparency===
Detailed assembly, repair and maintenance videos can be watched at the official knowledgebase<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to the Framework Knowledge Base |url=https://knowledgebase.frame.work/ |url-status=live |website=Help Center |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209003035/https://knowledgebase.frame.work/ |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref>. BIOS, firmware and driver updates are visible on e-mail subscription, knowledge base and (commentable) Framework Community posts<ref>{{Cite web |last=@ Quin_Chou |title=Framework Laptop 16 Ryzen 7040 BIOS 4.03 Release STABLE |url=https://community.frame.work/t/framework-laptop-16-ryzen-7040-bios-4-03-release-stable/79274 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-14 |website=Framework Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205084159/https://community.frame.work/t/framework-laptop-16-ryzen-7040-bios-4-03-release-stable/79274 |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref>. No [[Forced BIOS Firmware Update|forced BIOS updates]] for Windows users.

However, Framework does not provide complete historical versions<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-27 |title=Framework Laptop 13 BIOS and Driver Releases (AMD Ryzen™ 7040 Series) |url=https://knowledgebase.frame.work/framework-laptop-13-bios-and-driver-releases-amd-ryzen-7040-series-r1rXGVL16 |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Framework Knowledgebase}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-07 |title=Framework Laptop BIOS and Driver Releases (13 Gen Intel® Core™) |url=https://knowledgebase.frame.work/framework-laptop-bios-and-driver-releases-13th-gen-intel-core-BkQBvKWr3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Framework Knowledgebase}}</ref> of their [[Insyde Software|proprietary firmware blobs.]] With only a few exceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levin |first=Kieran |date=2024-03-01 |title=Framework 13 AMD Ryzen 7040 BIOS 3.03b |url=https://community.frame.work/t/framework-13-amd-ryzen-7040-bios-3-03b/46479 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422135054/https://community.frame.work/t/framework-13-amd-ryzen-7040-bios-3-03b/46479 |archive-date=2024-04-22 |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Framework Community Forum}}</ref> It is unclear whether this decision is due to licensing agreements with proprietary hardware vendors. Some older versions are available from the [[Internet Archive]], however the full firmware tree is unavailable at this time.

===Business model===
Framework's business model is to make repairable and customizable computers, at a hardware level. Framework also makes money from selling parts to consumers.

[[File: Framework part shop.jpeg|thumb| Framework’s marketplace for repair and replacement parts.]]

===Market control===
Framework is a relatively new player in the OEM PC sector, but in the niche they occupy, they are a significant player, mostly due to a lack of competition.

==Positivities==

===Assisting repairability===
Framework utilizes QR codes on parts of their devices which users can scan to get support, view guides, order replacements or upgrades.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Try It Out |url=https://frame.work/try-it-out |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240531114153/https://frame.work/try-it-out |archive-date=31 May 2024 |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Framework}}</ref>

They have partnered with iFixit to make repair guides.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Framework Repair Hub |url=https://www.ifixit.com/framework |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=iFixit}}</ref>

===Highly favourable reviews on iFixit===
The Laptop 12,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chamberlain |first=Elizabeth |date=2025-06-18 |title=Tough, Tiny, and Totally Repairable: Inside the Framework 12 |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/111201/tough-tiny-and-totally-repairable-inside-the-framework-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260122144331/https://www.ifixit.com/News/111201/tough-tiny-and-totally-repairable-inside-the-framework-12 |archive-date=22 Jan 2026 |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=iFixit}}</ref> 13<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Taylor |date=2021-07-28 |title=Framework Laptop Teardown: 10/10, But is it Perfect? |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/51614/framework-laptop-teardown-10-10-but-is-it-perfect |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118164148/https://www.ifixit.com/News/51614/framework-laptop-teardown-10-10-but-is-it-perfect |archive-date=18 Jan 2026 |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=iFixit}}</ref> and 16<ref>{{Cite web |last=iFixit |date=2024-01-23 |title=The Framework 16 Teardown!-Best Teardown of the year already?? |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y8uv8fajOrc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Y8uv8fajOrc |archive-date=23 Feb 2026 |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=YouTube}}</ref> have all received highly favourable reviews on [https://www.ifixit.com iFixit], a pro consumer repair outlet, for their repairability.

==Incidents==
===Laptop 13 61Wh battery swelling===
The high energy density 61Wh battery has more swelling incidents than the previous 55Wh battery<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Adam_Schindler |date=2025-09-13 |title=61Wh Battery Inflated |url=https://community.frame.work/t/61wh-battery-inflated/75169 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Framework Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251015213430/https://community.frame.work/t/61wh-battery-inflated/75169 |archive-date=15 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=@John_Goerzen |date=2024-09-18 |title=Swollen Battery <1yr in, How to address? |url=https://community.frame.work/t/swollen-battery-1yr-in-how-to-address/57848 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Framework Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219080248/https://community.frame.work/t/swollen-battery-1yr-in-how-to-address/57848 |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=@qemu-system-x86_64 |date=2025-11-12 |title=Battery swelling (FL13 / amd 7040 / 61Wh) |url=https://community.frame.work/t/battery-swelling-fl13-amd-7040-61wh/77653 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Framework Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251211210759/https://community.frame.work/t/battery-swelling-fl13-amd-7040-61wh/77653 |archive-date=11 Dec 2025}}</ref>. Framework mitigated this problem by having the battery automatic discharge down to 85% after fully charged and connected on AC adapter for more than three days<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Kieran_Levin |date=2024-10-25 |title=BIOS update required to prevent premature aging of 61Wh battery |url=https://community.frame.work/t/bios-update-required-to-prevent-premature-aging-of-61wh-battery/59580 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Framework Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260110051537/https://community.frame.work/t/bios-update-required-to-prevent-premature-aging-of-61wh-battery/59580 |archive-date=10 Jan 2026}}</ref>. However, this function may interfere with manual charge limit setting.

===Laptop 16 overheating===
Early models have liquid metal as the thermal interface between the CPU and its heat sink, which is known to degrade, leading to worse and uneven heat transfer<ref>{{Cite web |last=@zachary_stout |date=2024-08-04 |title=Uneven CPU thermals! |url=https://community.frame.work/t/uneven-cpu-thermals/55614/1 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-14 |website=Framework Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251008161122/https://community.frame.work/t/uneven-cpu-thermals/55614/1 |archive-date=8 Oct 2025}}</ref>.
Framework eventually changed to using Honeywell's PTM7958 phase change material, and the company provided a form for Laptop 16 owners at the time of the production change to request a phase change pad to replace their laptop's liquid metal.
<ref>
{{Cite web
| title=Our first new Framework Laptop 16 Expansion Bay module!
| url=https://community.frame.work/t/our-first-new-framework-laptop-16-expansion-bay-module/61888
| website=Framework Community
| date=2024-12-16
| access-date=2026-03-09
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250818092408/https://community.frame.work/t/our-first-new-framework-laptop-16-expansion-bay-module/61888
| archive-date=2025-08-18
}}
</ref>
However, removing the liquid metal can be challenging - Framework's provided guide to replace the liquid metal with the PTM7958 pad rates the operation as "difficult", with 40 steps and an estimated time between 30 minutes and an hour.
<ref>
{{Cite web
| url=https://guides.frame.work/Guide/Liquid+Metal+-%3E+PTM+7958/402
| title=Liquid Metal -> PTM 7958
| website=Framework Guides
| date=2025-04-07
| access-date=2026-03-09
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260303171447/https://guides.frame.work/Guide/Liquid+Metal+-%3E+PTM+7958/402
| archive-date=2026-03-03
}}
</ref>
One owner described the process as "quite a chore", though they only ended up taking "20-30 minutes to finish".
<ref>{{Cite web |author=Pham |first=Linh |date=2025-09-09 |title=Framework Laptop 16: Replacing Liquid Metal with PTM |url=https://linhpham.org/blog/2025/framework-laptop-16-replacing-liquid-metal-ptm/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260310043512/https://linhpham.org/blog/2025/framework-laptop-16-replacing-liquid-metal-ptm/ |archive-date=2026-03-10 |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=linhpham.org}}</ref>

===Locked down Community Market===
On the 9th of July 2025 the Lead Framework Forum<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-02 |title=catastrophic - User Profile |url=https://community.frame.work/u/catastrophic/summary |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=Framework Community Forum}}</ref> and Discord moderator<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=2025-08-10 |title=Framework supporting far-right racists? - Reply |url=https://community.frame.work/t/framework-supporting-far-right-racists/75986/830 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105141044/https://community.frame.work/t/framework-supporting-far-right-racists/75986/829 |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=Framework Community Forum}}</ref> "catastrophic" updated the conditions for users to post on the Framework Community Market.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-01 |title=Update on Community Market Access |url=https://community.frame.work/t/update-on-community-market-access/71850 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212191702/https://community.frame.work/t/update-on-community-market-access/71850 |archive-date=2026-02-12 |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Framework Community Forum}}</ref>

Following the release of the Framework 13 Pro, a number of users interested in selling their old components have voiced their dissatisfaction about the ramifications of these new requirements, and ultimately the effectiveness as a resolution to the issues faced by moderation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamanov |first=Boris |date=2025-12-13 |title=Community Market Trust Level Requirements - Absurd and Unfair, member here since 2021 |url=https://community.frame.work/t/community-market-trust-level-requirements-absurd-and-unfair-member-here-since-2021/78826 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260502032254/https://community.frame.work/t/community-market-trust-level-requirements-absurd-and-unfair-member-here-since-2021/78826 |archive-date=2026-05-02 |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Framework Community Forum}}</ref>

==Products==
*'''Framework Laptop 13 (''July 2021''):''' is closer to your usual laptop, but is more repairable, it is seen as the most popular option by far from the other products.
*'''Framework Laptop 16 (''March 2023''):''' It is the second most popular option and offers more customization than the Laptop 13. It can provide greater performance, and its keyboard is customizable, allowing it to be removed and repositioned. The keypad can also be removed and replaced with lighting modules, enabling a higher level of personalization.
*'''Framework Laptop 12 (''February 2025''):''' is told as being a customizable laptop with 360° support and it comes with a stylus, being able to practically be used as a tablet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Framework {{!}} Order your Framework Laptop 12 now |url=https://frame.work/laptop12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260110160719/https://frame.work/laptop12 |archive-date=January 10, 2026 |website=frame.work}}</ref>
*'''Framework Desktop (''February 2025''):''' a mini-computer designed to have its case be more customizable through tiles that are able to be taken out and put back somewhere else.
*'''Framework Laptop 13 Pro (April 2026):''' a revised version of the the Framework Laptop 13 with new mainboards and support for full forwards and backwards compatibility.

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://frame.work/about Framework About Us]
*[https://guides.frame.work/ Framework Guides]

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Framework

2026-06-05T12:14:18Z

SinexTitan: positive > negative

{{CompanyCargo
| Description =
| Founded = 2020-01
| Industry = Computer Hardware
| Logo = Framework Computer logo.svg
| ParentCompany =
| Type = Private
| Website = https://frame.work
}}

'''{{wplink|Framework Computer|Framework Computer, Inc.}}''' is an American personal computer manufacturer. It was founded in January 2020, by current CEO Nirav Patel. The company specializes in customization and repairability, the latter also helping the environment through making less laptops needing to be thrown out.

==Consumer impact summary==
===User freedom===
As a result of their products being highly modular and Framework not utilizing {{wplink|Right to repair#Software|parts pairing}}, consumers can heavily customize devices to their liking. Framework also offers DIY editions of their products which offers consumers the option to utilize their own sourced memory, storage and operating system. Framework laptops are also compatible with experimental RISC-V open architecture CPUs.<ref> {{Cite web |last=Geerling |first=Jeff |date=8 Dec 2025 |title=The DC-ROMA II is the fastest RISC-V laptop and is odd |url=https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/dc-roma-ii-fastest-risc-v-laptop-and-odd/ |access-date=9 Mar 2026 |website=Jeff Geerling’s Blog}}</ref>

===User privacy===
As Framework sells solely the hardware and not the software, it doesn't need any more information than is necessary. The Framework team have shown interest in implementing open source firmware such as a variant of Coreboot into their laptops.<ref> https://community.frame.work/t/responded-coreboot-on-the-framework-laptop/791</ref>


===Transparency===
Detailed assembly, repair and maintenance videos can be watched at the official knowledgebase<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to the Framework Knowledge Base |url=https://knowledgebase.frame.work/ |url-status=live |website=Help Center |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209003035/https://knowledgebase.frame.work/ |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref>. BIOS, firmware and driver updates are visible on e-mail subscription, knowledge base and (commentable) Framework Community posts<ref>{{Cite web |last=@ Quin_Chou |title=Framework Laptop 16 Ryzen 7040 BIOS 4.03 Release STABLE |url=https://community.frame.work/t/framework-laptop-16-ryzen-7040-bios-4-03-release-stable/79274 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-14 |website=Framework Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205084159/https://community.frame.work/t/framework-laptop-16-ryzen-7040-bios-4-03-release-stable/79274 |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref>. No [[Forced BIOS Firmware Update|forced BIOS updates]] for Windows users.

However, Framework does not provide complete historical versions<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-27 |title=Framework Laptop 13 BIOS and Driver Releases (AMD Ryzen™ 7040 Series) |url=https://knowledgebase.frame.work/framework-laptop-13-bios-and-driver-releases-amd-ryzen-7040-series-r1rXGVL16 |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Framework Knowledgebase}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-07 |title=Framework Laptop BIOS and Driver Releases (13 Gen Intel® Core™) |url=https://knowledgebase.frame.work/framework-laptop-bios-and-driver-releases-13th-gen-intel-core-BkQBvKWr3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Framework Knowledgebase}}</ref> of their [[Insyde Software|proprietary firmware blobs.]] With only a few exceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levin |first=Kieran |date=2024-03-01 |title=Framework 13 AMD Ryzen 7040 BIOS 3.03b |url=https://community.frame.work/t/framework-13-amd-ryzen-7040-bios-3-03b/46479 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422135054/https://community.frame.work/t/framework-13-amd-ryzen-7040-bios-3-03b/46479 |archive-date=2024-04-22 |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Framework Community Forum}}</ref> It is unclear whether this decision is due to licensing agreements with proprietary hardware vendors. Some older versions are available from archive.org, however the full firmware tree is unavailable at this time.

===Business model===
Framework's business model is to make repairable and customizable computers, at a hardware level. Framework also makes money from selling parts to consumers.

[[File: Framework part shop.jpeg|thumb| Framework’s marketplace for repair and replacement parts.]]

===Market control===
Framework is a relatively new player in the OEM PC sector, but in the niche they occupy, they are a significant player, mostly due to a lack of competition.

==Positivities==

===Assisting repairability===
Framework utilizes QR codes on parts of their devices which users can scan to get support, view guides, order replacements or upgrades.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Try It Out |url=https://frame.work/try-it-out |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240531114153/https://frame.work/try-it-out |archive-date=31 May 2024 |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Framework}}</ref>

They have partnered with iFixit to make repair guides.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Framework Repair Hub |url=https://www.ifixit.com/framework |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=iFixit}}</ref>

===Highly favourable reviews on iFixit===
The Laptop 12,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chamberlain |first=Elizabeth |date=2025-06-18 |title=Tough, Tiny, and Totally Repairable: Inside the Framework 12 |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/111201/tough-tiny-and-totally-repairable-inside-the-framework-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260122144331/https://www.ifixit.com/News/111201/tough-tiny-and-totally-repairable-inside-the-framework-12 |archive-date=22 Jan 2026 |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=iFixit}}</ref> 13<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Taylor |date=2021-07-28 |title=Framework Laptop Teardown: 10/10, But is it Perfect? |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/51614/framework-laptop-teardown-10-10-but-is-it-perfect |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118164148/https://www.ifixit.com/News/51614/framework-laptop-teardown-10-10-but-is-it-perfect |archive-date=18 Jan 2026 |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=iFixit}}</ref> and 16<ref>{{Cite web |last=iFixit |date=2024-01-23 |title=The Framework 16 Teardown!-Best Teardown of the year already?? |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y8uv8fajOrc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Y8uv8fajOrc |archive-date=23 Feb 2026 |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=YouTube}}</ref> have all received highly favourable reviews on [https://www.ifixit.com iFixit], a pro consumer repair outlet, for their repairability.

==Incidents==
===Laptop 13 61Wh battery swelling===
The high energy density 61Wh battery has more swelling incidents than the previous 55Wh battery<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Adam_Schindler |date=2025-09-13 |title=61Wh Battery Inflated |url=https://community.frame.work/t/61wh-battery-inflated/75169 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Framework Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251015213430/https://community.frame.work/t/61wh-battery-inflated/75169 |archive-date=15 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=@John_Goerzen |date=2024-09-18 |title=Swollen Battery <1yr in, How to address? |url=https://community.frame.work/t/swollen-battery-1yr-in-how-to-address/57848 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Framework Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219080248/https://community.frame.work/t/swollen-battery-1yr-in-how-to-address/57848 |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=@qemu-system-x86_64 |date=2025-11-12 |title=Battery swelling (FL13 / amd 7040 / 61Wh) |url=https://community.frame.work/t/battery-swelling-fl13-amd-7040-61wh/77653 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Framework Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251211210759/https://community.frame.work/t/battery-swelling-fl13-amd-7040-61wh/77653 |archive-date=11 Dec 2025}}</ref>. Framework mitigated this problem by having the battery automatic discharge down to 85% after fully charged and connected on AC adapter for more than three days<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Kieran_Levin |date=2024-10-25 |title=BIOS update required to prevent premature aging of 61Wh battery |url=https://community.frame.work/t/bios-update-required-to-prevent-premature-aging-of-61wh-battery/59580 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Framework Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260110051537/https://community.frame.work/t/bios-update-required-to-prevent-premature-aging-of-61wh-battery/59580 |archive-date=10 Jan 2026}}</ref>. However, this function may interfere with manual charge limit setting.

===Laptop 16 overheating===
Early models have liquid metal as the thermal interface between the CPU and its heat sink, which is known to degrade, leading to worse and uneven heat transfer<ref>{{Cite web |last=@zachary_stout |date=2024-08-04 |title=Uneven CPU thermals! |url=https://community.frame.work/t/uneven-cpu-thermals/55614/1 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-14 |website=Framework Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251008161122/https://community.frame.work/t/uneven-cpu-thermals/55614/1 |archive-date=8 Oct 2025}}</ref>.
Framework eventually changed to using Honeywell's PTM7958 phase change material, and the company provided a form for Laptop 16 owners at the time of the production change to request a phase change pad to replace their laptop's liquid metal.
<ref>
{{Cite web
| title=Our first new Framework Laptop 16 Expansion Bay module!
| url=https://community.frame.work/t/our-first-new-framework-laptop-16-expansion-bay-module/61888
| website=Framework Community
| date=2024-12-16
| access-date=2026-03-09
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250818092408/https://community.frame.work/t/our-first-new-framework-laptop-16-expansion-bay-module/61888
| archive-date=2025-08-18
}}
</ref>
However, removing the liquid metal can be challenging - Framework's provided guide to replace the liquid metal with the PTM7958 pad rates the operation as "difficult", with 40 steps and an estimated time between 30 minutes and an hour.
<ref>
{{Cite web
| url=https://guides.frame.work/Guide/Liquid+Metal+-%3E+PTM+7958/402
| title=Liquid Metal -> PTM 7958
| website=Framework Guides
| date=2025-04-07
| access-date=2026-03-09
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260303171447/https://guides.frame.work/Guide/Liquid+Metal+-%3E+PTM+7958/402
| archive-date=2026-03-03
}}
</ref>
One owner described the process as "quite a chore", though they only ended up taking "20-30 minutes to finish".
<ref>{{Cite web |author=Pham |first=Linh |date=2025-09-09 |title=Framework Laptop 16: Replacing Liquid Metal with PTM |url=https://linhpham.org/blog/2025/framework-laptop-16-replacing-liquid-metal-ptm/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260310043512/https://linhpham.org/blog/2025/framework-laptop-16-replacing-liquid-metal-ptm/ |archive-date=2026-03-10 |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=linhpham.org}}</ref>

===Locked down Community Market===
On the 9th of July 2025 the Lead Framework Forum<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-02 |title=catastrophic - User Profile |url=https://community.frame.work/u/catastrophic/summary |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=Framework Community Forum}}</ref> and Discord moderator<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=2025-08-10 |title=Framework supporting far-right racists? - Reply |url=https://community.frame.work/t/framework-supporting-far-right-racists/75986/830 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105141044/https://community.frame.work/t/framework-supporting-far-right-racists/75986/829 |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=Framework Community Forum}}</ref> "catastrophic" updated the conditions for users to post on the Framework Community Market.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-01 |title=Update on Community Market Access |url=https://community.frame.work/t/update-on-community-market-access/71850 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212191702/https://community.frame.work/t/update-on-community-market-access/71850 |archive-date=2026-02-12 |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Framework Community Forum}}</ref>

Following the release of the Framework 13 Pro, a number of users interested in selling their old components have voiced their dissatisfaction about the ramifications of these new requirements, and ultimately the effectiveness as a resolution to the issues faced by moderation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamanov |first=Boris |date=2025-12-13 |title=Community Market Trust Level Requirements - Absurd and Unfair, member here since 2021 |url=https://community.frame.work/t/community-market-trust-level-requirements-absurd-and-unfair-member-here-since-2021/78826 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260502032254/https://community.frame.work/t/community-market-trust-level-requirements-absurd-and-unfair-member-here-since-2021/78826 |archive-date=2026-05-02 |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Framework Community Forum}}</ref>

==Products==
*'''Framework Laptop 13 (''July 2021''):''' is closer to your usual laptop, but is more repairable, it is seen as the most popular option by far from the other products.
*'''Framework Laptop 16 (''March 2023''):''' It is the second most popular option and offers more customization than the Laptop 13. It can provide greater performance, and its keyboard is customizable, allowing it to be removed and repositioned. The keypad can also be removed and replaced with lighting modules, enabling a higher level of personalization.
*'''Framework Laptop 12 (''February 2025''):''' is told as being a customizable laptop with 360° support and it comes with a stylus, being able to practically be used as a tablet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Framework {{!}} Order your Framework Laptop 12 now |url=https://frame.work/laptop12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260110160719/https://frame.work/laptop12 |archive-date=January 10, 2026 |website=frame.work}}</ref>
*'''Framework Desktop (''February 2025''):''' a mini-computer designed to have its case be more customizable through tiles that are able to be taken out and put back somewhere else.
*'''Framework Laptop 13 Pro (April 2026):''' a revised version of the the Framework Laptop 13 with new mainboards and support for full forwards and backwards compatibility.

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://frame.work/about Framework About Us]
*[https://guides.frame.work/ Framework Guides]

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Article suggestions

2026-06-05T12:07:16Z

SinexTitan: Mind Boogle Maps removal

This page is dedicated towards providing a communal list for users to submit potential articles to feature on the wiki, and to give editors inspiration on what pages they might want to add to the wiki. If you create an article based on an entry from this list, or see that someone else has done so, please make sure to delete the row from this page in order to prevent confusion.

Sources should be inserted within the 'refs' section of the table. If using the [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki:Jargon_buster#Visual_editor_('Edit')|visual editor]], take advantage of '<nowiki/>'''insert reference'''<nowiki/>' via {{Key press|Ctrl|Shift|K}} so that the sources are quick to add to future articles. If you are using the source editor, feel free to copy and paste the formatting from other correctly formatted references on the page. The more sources you include with an article idea, the more likely it is that others will pick the article idea up and run with it, so please attempt to include a good variety of descriptive sources!

Please take note of the wiki's [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Inclusion guidelines|Inclusion criteria]] when submitting article suggestions. If you see article suggestions here which do not fit the Wiki, feel free to remove them, leaving your reasoning in an edit note.

If you are an editor looking for further inspiration to write an article, you can also check out the [[Louis Rossmann - Video Directory|Louis Rossmann video directory]] and [[Other Channels - Video Directory|other channels video directory]] for a good collections of potential articles.

==Example==
Below is an example of what an entry should appear as:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Company
!Summary of Incident
!Refs
|-
|[[Nintendo]]
|In 2025, the company Nintendo stripped Switch 2 consoles that used the MIG switch cartridge of all online functionality
|<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Scattered Brain |date=Jun 16, 2025 |title=Soo... Nintendo banned my Switch 2 (Don't try the MIG Switch!) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo&t=656s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jun 17, 2025 |title=Switch 2 users report online console bans after running personal game “backups” |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/playing-personal-game-backups-could-get-your-switch-2-banned-by-nintendo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251222013641/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/playing-personal-game-backups-could-get-your-switch-2-banned-by-nintendo/ |archive-date=22 Dec 2025|access-date=Jun 19, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref>
|}

==List of incidents not yet covered==
[[Category:Sources]]
- LEGO BRICKS investigator utuber had to flee USA due to cop hitsquad <nowiki>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxZPfj8AlmY</nowiki>

For the last two months said youtuber tried to help a family recover 2000 dolars, currently in hiding in mexico due to swatting
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Company
!Summary of Incident
!Refs
|-
|194 Online Marketing Services (incl. [[Google]], [[Microsoft]], [[Meta]])
|Survey shows that more than half of websites set marketing cookies despite users opting out via Do Not Track header, Browser add-ons or by declining cookie banners. Google calles it a "misunderstanding of how their products work", Meta comments that according to the law an opt-out only prohibits selling of the data, not collecting it.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.404media.co/google-microsoft-meta-all-tracking-you-even-when-you-opt-out-according-to-an-independent-audit/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://globalprivacyaudit.org/2026/california}}</ref>
|-
|[[8Player]]
|In early March, 2026, the Apple TV application called 8Player began displaying a notice informing users who had already paid for the app, that the app would not continue to function unless they agreed to an ongoing subscription.
The text of the notice says the following:
----Thank you for being a valued 8player user.

To keep improving the app and delivering new features, 8player is moving to a subscription model.

You can continue using the full version at no cost until April 15, 2026.

After that, activate the subscription in the app to keep full access. Your existing features will remain available, and no action is needed today.

Thank you for supporting 8player over the years.

[[:File:8player-subscription-model-notice.png]]
|
|-
|[[ABC Financial Services]]
|Manages memberships and recurring service subscriptions for other companies. Prevents customers from being able to cancel a service by locking them into a never-ending cycle of auto renewals, and not allowing the customer to opt out of auto renewal.
|
|-
|[[Acer]]
|Removed Predator/Nitro Sense Applications for laptops from their support sites somewhere in early March 2026 (Looking at wayback machine snapshots). The application is required by the laptops to be able to toggle "Turbo" mode, which applies overclocks and boosts cooling. Additionally, recent Windows update(s) (KB5083769/KB5082417) have broken the application, making users unable to use it even if you were able to install it.
|
|-
|AcuRite
|AcuRite began emailing customers last month that they’d soon have to control their devices with the "AcuRite Now" iOS and Android app, eliminating the free "My AcuRite" app, the replacement of which, "AcuRite Now" requires a subscription for features previously active in the free app.
|https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/05/weather-monitoring-firm-hangs-dark-cloud-over-customers-heads-by-forcing-new-app/
|-
|Affinity / [[Canva]] page created needs editors to help
|Canva purchases [[Serif]]; the owner of perpetual license design software Affinity Publisher, Designer, and Photo on March 26th 2024. Provides a pledge to assure users that Canva will not "ruin" the suite. In October 2025, Affinity users are locked out of the community forum for a new "Creative Freedom" announcement on October 30th 2025. Complete radio silence for a whole month while they tease long term users on Twitter and Discord. Finally on October 30th 2025, the new Affinity software is announced as "free". Instead, all creative professionals that used the original software are forced to create a new Canva account to access the new Affinity and thus agree to Canva's ToS<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-30 |title=Canva Terms of Use |url=https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128105545/https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026|website=Canva Legal Trust Center}}</ref>. Affinity redirects the pledge page to an announcement for the new software, effectively burying the original pledge<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2024-03-27 |title=The Affinity and Canva Pledge |url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002083749/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ |archive-date=2025-10-02 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref>. Questions about Canva now being able to monetize the work of professionals to train their own AI models sold to Canva users are left unanswered. Free, but at what cost?
EDIT: Initial article has been written but needs more work, citation, and verification. [[Canva Affinity Studio adds arbitration clause|See this article here]].
|<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />
|-
|[[Alibaba]]
|{{Wplink|Alibaba Group|Wikipedia entry}}
|
|-
|[[AMD]]
|Linux users now have to pay for Vivado even though it used to be free
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudra |first=Sourav |date=2026-05-25 |title=AMD Pulls a Bait-and-Switch on Linux Users with Vivado Licensing Changes |url=https://itsfoss.com/news/amd-vivado-bait-and-switch-on-linux-users/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=It's FOSS}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apotheka]]
|Personal ID codes, purchase information and contact details of almost half of Estonian citizens and residents have been compromised in a mass data breach of the IT system operated by Allium UPI, a firm dealing with pharmacy and hospital products.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=Cybercriminals steal data of around 700,000 Apotheka pharmacy customers |url=https://news.err.ee/1609302096/cybercriminals-steal-data-of-around-700-000-apotheka-pharmacy-customers |url-status=live |website=[[ERR]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apple]]
|$17 000 Apple Watch 18 karat gold edition out of support only 8 years after its introduction (not end of sale!). This means no software support, and, crucially, no repair or replacement parts. If the battery dies, the watch is but a paperweight.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple will no longer fix the $17,000 gold Apple Watch |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/2/23900158/apple-watch-edition-gold-2015-obsolete-unsupported-beyonce |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222211749/https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/2/23900158/apple-watch-edition-gold-2015-obsolete-unsupported-beyonce |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|website=The Verge}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apple]], [[Beats]]
|No support for Powerbeats (4th generation) despite the headphones being under 5 years from when Apple last distributed the product for sale. The product is not listed as discontinued or vintage, and by Apple's own guidelines, should be eligible for replacement parts and repair. OEM replacement eartips cannot be purchased for any Beats earphones.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260207094149/https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772 |archive-date=7 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Beats Repair and Service |url=https://support.apple.com/beats/repair |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260104000857/https://support.apple.com/beats/repair |archive-date=4 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple store search for eartips |url=https://www.apple.com/us/search/eartips?src=alp |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251028001314/https://www.apple.com/us/search/eartips?src=alp |archive-date=28 Oct 2025|access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref>
|-
|[[Apple]] iWork/Creator Studio
|The update that makes the iWork apps part of the new Apple Creator Studio subscription now adds tracking that is enabled by default and implemented as opt-out. The information about it is displayed in a first launch screen without any immediate way opt out, which qualifies as a dark pattern. Instead, the user has to go through a slightly convoluted path via the iPhone/iPad system settings app, and under the submenu "Apps" find each of the iWork apps and disable analytics there individually for each app. On Desktop, it is under a dedicated menu item under the "Pages"/"Numbers"/"Keynote" menu.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=New versions of Keynote, Numbers, and Pages collect telemetry by default on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1qq7q9m/new_versions_of_keynote_numbers_and_pages_collect/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223032029/https://old.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1qq7q9m/new_versions_of_keynote_numbers_and_pages_collect/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[archive.today]] / archive.ph (Web Archival Service)
|The website used [[JavaScript]] embedded into the website code to conduct a DDOS attack from users' devices against a blogger who has voiced criticism of the service in the past. This may make also cause legal issues for users.
NOTE: A similar technique has previously been used by Chinese search giant [[Baidu]], so we might want to create a category or tag for this type of thing

ADDENDUM: This page was reported to have been changing the information displayed in some archived screenshots, such as the author who published particular articles.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirchner |first=Malte |last2=Kunz |first2=Dr. Christopher |date=10 Feb 2026 |title=Archive.today: Operator uses users for DDoS attack |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Archive-today-Operator-uses-users-for-DDoS-attack-11171455.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212060655/https://www.heise.de/en/news/Archive-today-Operator-uses-users-for-DDoS-attack-11171455.html |archive-date=12 Feb 2026 |website=heise}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=LMG Clips |title=Wikipedia Banned 690,000 Archive Links - LMG Clips |url=https://youtu.be/rrnFUvFGf5A?si=32JRogu2ID9xykHd |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=LMG Clips on YouTube - Wikipedia Banned 690,000 Archive Links}}</ref>
|-
|[[ASUS]] (ROG)
|Releases bios updates via windows executable, meaning that you can't update your bios to the latest version to amend a security vulnerability or fix an issue unless you're running microsoft windows. The windows executable simply extracts a binary file, that you can drop on a thumb drive. This could be easily done via direct download to support other operating systems.
|
|-
|[[AutoAuth]]
|'''AutoAuth''' represents a significant shift toward "repair-by-subscription," where owning a vehicle no longer guarantees the right to maintain it. By placing a digital firewall between the owner and the car’s computer, AutoAuth forces independent shops and DIY enthusiasts to pay recurring access fees and register their personal data with a third-party gatekeeper just to perform basic maintenance, such as electronic parking brake retractions or oil life resets.
|
|-
|[[Backblaze]]
|Backblaze makes canceling a subscription needlessly complex and convoluted. This is referring to their personal backup solution, I do not know how other subscriptions are handled.
To cancel a Backblaze subscription after 30 days you are required to delete your account. A full refund can apparently be requested within that window
[https://www.backblaze.com/company/policy/payments-and-refunds "Payments and refunds"].
If after 30 days you decide to cancel or switch to a different service after your subscription ends you have the following options:
1. Wait until the end of your subscription to cancel.
2. Delete your account, removing your access to the service prematurely.
There is no "do not renew" option, even removing your payment information is not possible. In my opinion it should be possible to enjoy the access you paid for without having to remember to cancel a year or two later.
[https://help.backblaze.com/hc/en-us/articles/217665728-Canceling-and-Deleting-a-Backblaze-Account "Canceling and deleting a Backblaze account"]
|
|-
|[[Bayer]]
|[[wikipedia:Bayer|Wikipedia]]. See [[Monsanto]]
|
|-
|[[Benjamin]]
|Offerwall phone app that pays users money for various tasks- such as watching ads, or downloading and using software. After years of user satisfaction, in late 2025, the company first put a 2 month moratorium on users' ability to withdraw their earned money, then rolled out a massive wave of enshittification features, the most egregious of which, is a "withdrawl queue", where withdrawing your earnings is placed into a queue with no visible progress. No days, no queue tracker, many members have been waiting over 3 months for their withdrawls to be processed, on a feature listed as "instant withdrawl". Various policies also implemented that would completely void a user's earned money, mainly inactivity but also many baseless random user bans (many of which were reversed). There are hundreds of frustrated user testimonials on reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/benjaminone/).
|
|-
|Berlin
|City of Berlin installs security cameras that alerts authorities about people who are "loitering without reason".
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krempl |first=Stefan |date=10 Mar 2026 |title=Surveillance in Berlin: When AI reports "loitering without reason" |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Surveillance-in-Berlin-When-AI-reports-loitering-without-reason-11206420.html |website=heise}}</ref>
|-
|[[Better Business Bureau]] (BBB)
|Users who have been wronged and even scammed by companies have recently started reporting that the BBB has ignored, rejected, misclassified, closed prematurely or taken down their valid, BBB compliant, complaints for no apparent reason<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-29 |title=Better Business Bureau Reviews |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bbb.org |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=Trustpilot}}</ref>. Attempts to remedy the situation often result in unanswered/ignored emails and ghosting. Companies with large percentages of unresolved complaints often get an A+ rating (which basically contradicts the BBB's own guidelines). This is especially true when it comes to paying BBB member companies, but is often also the case with non member companies. A Redditors explained that a company can easily buy an A+ BBB rating by paying the BBB<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waste Managment sent an ad disguised as a bill |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ColoradoSprings/comments/1l6hr18/comment/mwpys3o/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=Reddit}}</ref> or by paying a lawyer to threaten to sue the BBB for defamation.
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|-
|[[Best Buy]]
|In late 2025, BestBuy added [https://www.bestbuy.com/site/help-topics/pricing-message/pcmcat748302046647.c?id=pcmcat748302046647#:~:text=Our%20%E2%80%9CComparable%20Value%E2%80%9D%20(Comp,retailers%20or%20e%2Dcommerce%20companies. "Comparable Value"] as means of comparing values of products that is of equivalent value to other products sold by manufacturers, 1st party, or 3rd party vendors. Changes to their pricing model has made it to where it is more difficult to determine overall value of a product compared to MSRP.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Support |first=Best Buy |date=2025-01-24 |title=Pricing: Promotions |url=https://www.bestbuy.com/site/help-topics/pricing-message/pcmcat748302046647.c?id=pcmcat748302046647#:~:text=Our%20%E2%80%9CComparable%20Value%E2%80%9D%20(Comp,retailers%20or%20e%2Dcommerce%20companies. |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Best Buy}}</ref>
|-
|[[Blackview]]
|[https://www.blackview.hk Blackview], a technology brand that originally specialized in rugged outdoor phones more info at [https://www.blackview.hk/about-blackview "About us]"
Certain Phones have been hit with advertisements from the App called "System message" which is baked in the OS, "Allow Notification dots" can be disabled however "All System message notifications" and neither "Push" notifications cannot be disabled by the user. The App cannot be disabled nor uninstalled, it can be forced stopped and set the battery restriction option to "restricted". I [[User:SolidSnakePliskin|SolidSnakePliskin]] creating this entry have seen this happen firsthand on 1st April 2026 on my Blackview Model Number: N6000 (EEA) Purchased on [https://web.archive.org/web/20260401174012/https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0CCXBNTWR Amazon Italy]. OS Details: Android Version 13 (Security Update November 5, 2025) & DokeOS 3.1. Further More other Reddit users complaining [https://old.reddit.com/r/blackview/comments/1mo441x/get_rid_of_system_notification_that_contains_ads/ here].
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|-
|[[Bluesky]]
|Introduced ID check for Direct Messaging to comply with laws in certain states and abroad, despite both the company and community being against it.
Its legal docs ([https://bsky.social/about/support/tos ToS], [https://bsky.social/about/support/privacy-policy PP], [https://bsky.social/about/support/community-guidelines CG]) need [[JavaScript|JS]] to be viewed by humans, however this seems more of an oversight than deliberate
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|-
|[[Carvana]]
|Saying cars that have been in accidents have not; Lies about inspection and does not replace brake pads even when worn down. Non-refundable $1,500 shipping fee. See [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9yhOeTUEo4 Louis Rossmann's video]
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|-
|[[Chuwi]]
|Misleading consumers by falsifying the specsheet of one of their latest laptops, and repeatedly threatened one of the online publications that wrote an article of their alleged misdeeds.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leitner |first=Simon |date=2026-03-12 |title=CPU fraud, next round: Chuwi CoreBook Plus with supposed AMD Ryzen 5 7430U also affected |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/CPU-fraud-next-round-Chuwi-CoreBook-Plus-with-supposed-AMD-Ryzen-5-7430U-also-affected.1248660.0.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260313120720/https://www.notebookcheck.net/CPU-fraud-next-round-Chuwi-CoreBook-Plus-with-supposed-AMD-Ryzen-5-7430U-also-affected.1248660.0.html |archive-date=2026-03-13 |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=Notebookcheck}}</ref>
|-
|[[Cloudary Holdings Limited / Webnovel]]
|Terms of service with binding Arbitration.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Webnovel ToS |url=https://www.webnovel.com/terms_of_service |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260101204816/https://www.webnovel.com/terms_of_service |archive-date=1 Jan 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Devolo]]
|Devolo switches off servers and removes their app from stores for their "Home Control" system, thus severely reducing the functionality of their devices (apparently Z-Wave-based).
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=IT-News für Profis |url=https://www.golem.de/news/weiterbetrieb-verursacht-weitere-kosten-devolo-macht-smart-home-system-zum-grossteil-unbrauchbar-2508-199409.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251210052941/https://www.golem.de/news/weiterbetrieb-verursacht-weitere-kosten-devolo-macht-smart-home-system-zum-grossteil-unbrauchbar-2508-199409.html |archive-date=10 Dec 2025|website=Golem |language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[DeviantArt]]
|DeviantArt launched in 2000 and quickly became a household name among digital artists. [https://www.wix.com/press-room/home/post/wix-acquires-deviantart-pairing-wix-capabilities-with-global-creative-community But in 2017 WiX] bought the website and in 2022 had made all art on it's site liable to be training data by default. They then back peddled and then set all art to noai by default. Now they are moving basic functions to be behind their paywall. [https://www.deviantart.com/razorstargazer/journal/Deviantart-is-the-worst-website-ever-created-1309667089 Ones that were free.]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=The AI Controversy on DeviantArt: How a Creative Paradise Became a Battleground |url=https://expertbeacon.com/the-ai-controversy-on-deviantart-how-a-creative-paradise-became-a-battleground/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wix Acquires DeviantArt, Pairing Wix Capabilities with Global Creative Community |url=https://www.wix.com/press-room/home/post/wix-acquires-deviantart-pairing-wix-capabilities-with-global-creative-community |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|DotPe cyber-sec negligence
|In 2024, an Indian company that provides digital services to food-chains got trivially hacked/cracked, allowing anyone to get customer data and company revenue-stats across many countries
|<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20240923081639/https://peabee.substack.com/p/whats-inside-the-qr-code-menu-at</ref>
|-
|[[Digital Europe]] (lobby organization consisting of [[Microsoft]], [[Google]], [[Amazon]], and [[Meta]])
|Group lobbied to keep datacenter emissions secret from consumers via confidentiality clause that was adopted almost verbatim by the Eurpean Comission, intentionally keeping consumers in the dark about the environmental impact of the products they use.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/17/microsoft-us-tech-firms-lobbied-eu-secrecy-rules-datacentre-emissions}}</ref>
|-
|[[E621]]
|Terms of service that require agreement to forced arbitration to use the website.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-02 |title=E621 |url=https://e621.net/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128164339/https://e621.net/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026|website=E621}}</ref>
|-
|[[EcoVac]]
|Vacuum cleaner robots produced by company 'EcoVac' were found vulnerable to hacking over bluetooth allowing for remote control and access to camera feed. Security researcher Dennis Giese notified the company in December of 2023. In August of 2024, the issue was described by the company as "extremely rare in typical user environments and require specialized hacking tools and physical access to the device."
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fell |first=Julian |date=2024-10-04 |title=We hacked a robot vacuum — and could watch live through its camera - ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-04/robot-vacuum-hacked-photos-camera-audio/104414020 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251128025250/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-04/robot-vacuum-hacked-photos-camera-audio/104414020 |archive-date=28 Nov 2025|access-date=2025-09-10 |website=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Lorenzo |date=2024-08-09 |title=Ecovacs home robots can be hacked to spy on their owners, researchers say {{!}} TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/09/ecovacs-home-robots-can-be-hacked-to-spy-on-their-owners-researchers-say/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222212044/https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/09/ecovacs-home-robots-can-be-hacked-to-spy-on-their-owners-researchers-say/ |archive-date=2026-02-22 |access-date=10 Aug 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Lorenzo |date=2024-08-15 |title=Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai on X: "Finally, Ecovacs responds to the researchers' findings, saying it won't fix the bugs. |url=https://x.com/lorenzofb/status/1823774980460388675 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241108194816/https://x.com/lorenzofb/status/1823774980460388675 |archive-date=8 Nov 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[Elegoo Centauri Carbon|Elegoo]]
|The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3d printer has been proven to use open source Klipper software which requires them to publish their changes to the code.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-28 |title=PSA: Elegoo Centauri Carbon & GPL Compliance |url=https://freethecode.lol/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206142736/https://freethecode.lol/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025|access-date=2025-08-28 |website=PSA: Elegoo Centauri Carbon & GPL Compliance}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ericcson]]
|Data Breach March 2026
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|-
|[[FBI]]
|FBI buys location data of US citizens
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=FBI is buying location data to track US citizens, director confirms |url=https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/18/fbi-is-buying-location-data-to-track-us-citizens-kash-patel-wyden/ |url-status=live |website=[[TechCrunch]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Foxconn]]
|Foxconn is an electronics manufacturer with various human rights violations on it's record. They've also convinced the government to use eminent domain to take people's property to build factories, that never end up using the factories.
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|-
|[[Foxit Reader]]
|Updater uses dark pattern to trick unsuspecting users into installing a trial version of their paid product. The checkbox is enabled again by default with each update in the hope that the user misses it by accident at some point.
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|-
|[[Gaggia]]
|Between 2015 to 2019, the redesigned Gaggia Classic removed the traditional three-way solenoid valve. The valve was restored in the 2019 Gaggia Classic Pro after criticism and backlash from the espresso enthusiast community.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Waddell |first=Kelsey |date=2023-03-23 |title=Gaggia Classic vs Pro: A Closer Look at the Differences |url=https://www.roastycoffee.com/gaggia-classic-vs-pro/ |website=Roasty Coffee}}</ref>
|-
|[[General Motors|GM]]
|GM originally released the EV1 in 1996 on a lease program, and then instead of selling the much loved used/leased vehicles to consumers, they decided to crush the grand majority of them. Very few surviving examples can be found today, with most in private collections or at universities.
Because it was seen as a failure to major auto manufacturers, It would take over a decade before another EV was produced in the United States.
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|-
|Google TLS Changes
|Google's new requirements to certificate authorities require separate authority/signing chains to be used to issue Server Authentication and Client Authentication certificates. Therefore, starting 11 February 2026, Let's Encrypt will no longer include the Client Authentication EKU on default certificates
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|[[Google]] ([[Android]])
|Google apparently plans to reduce the interval of publishing source code of security patches they consider non-critical. This is another blow to the custom ROM community.
Right now we don't have these incidents organised chronologically, maybe we should have a table with a timeline of measures Google takes to enshittify and close down Android (more APIs moved to Play Services, Developer verification, withholding AOSP device trees for Pixel devices to mess with [[GrapheneOS]], now delayed source code disclosure). What's worst, they always cite safety as a reason.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Google wants to make Android phones safer by switching to ‘risk-based’ security updates |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/android-risk-based-security-updates-3597466/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260107025310/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-risk-based-security-updates-3597466/ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Android Authority}}</ref>
|-
|[[Google]], [[Mozilla]], [[Apple]], [[Microsoft]], but largely Google-led
|Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari are removing XSLT 1.0 support, which could break critical parts of government's websites worldwide<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dimant |first=Dimitrii "Mamut" |date=2025-08-10 |title=XSLT removal will break multiple government and regulatory sites across the world #11582 |url=https://github.com/whatwg/html/issues/11582 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211221059/https://github.com/whatwg/html/issues/11582 |archive-date=11 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-25 |website=Github (specifically the Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group's HTML standards repo, controlled by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft and Apple)}}</ref>. There are valid security reasons for them to want to stop supporting this 1999-era standard, however they have had 26+ years to update to a newer standard (such as the 2017-era 3.1 standard, which is backwards compatible and would allow these sites to continue to work<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-21 |title="XML Path Language (XPath) 3.1: W3C Recommendation 21 March 2017" |url=https://www.w3.org/TR/xpath-31/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260116015839/https://www.w3.org/TR/xpath-31/ |archive-date=16 Jan 2026|website=W3C}}</ref>). The single unpaid developer maintaining these libraries has more or less retired after getting flooded with impossible to satisfy security requests from these companies<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wellnhoffer |first=Nick |date=2025-05-08 |title=Triaging security issues reported by third parties |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libxml2/-/issues/913 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131231248/https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libxml2/-/issues/913 |archive-date=31 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-10-25 |website=gitlab.gnome.org}}</ref>. There is an existing project called XRUST to implement the 3.1 standard<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-09 |title=XRust: XPath, XQuery, and XSLT for Rust |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/Rust/markup-rs/xrust |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260204085435/https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/Rust/markup-rs/xrust |archive-date=4 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-14 |website=gitlab.gnome.org}}</ref>, which is 2/3rds of the way through supporting all the features of 1.0 - the XSLT part fully supports all the 1.0 features at this point. XSLT is part of the W3C Consortium's open web standards for formatting and presenting XML, and is also how RSS works, so RSS feeds would stop working as well, disrupting the livelihoods of podcasters<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rijo |first=Luis |date=2025-08-20 |title=Google targets RSS feeds in new XSLT removal proposal |url=https://ppc.land/google-targets-rss-feeds-in-new-xslt-removal-proposal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222212228/https://ppc.land/google-targets-rss-feeds-in-new-xslt-removal-proposal/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-10-14 |website=PPC-Land}}</ref>. This has led to questions of who owns the web - the public (including the government) who paid for and laid down the highways / web infrastructure - or a handful of large corporations? <ref>{{Cite web |last=Branscombe |first=Mary |date=2025-09-01 |title=XSLT Debate Leads to Bigger Questions of Web Governance |url=https://thenewstack.io/xslt-debate-leads-to-bigger-questions-of-web-governance/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131231310/https://thenewstack.io/xslt-debate-leads-to-bigger-questions-of-web-governance/ |archive-date=31 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-10-14 |website=The New Stack}}</ref>
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|-
|[[Google Photos]]
|Google Makes it more difficult to manage photos within your google drive account through third party applications, including open source software running on linux.
This makes it incredibly frustrating to clear space in google drive if you've exceeded the space limits.
|<ref>https://github.com/gilesknap/gphotos-sync-discussion/discussions/1</ref>
|-
|[[GoPro]] Hero 12
|GoPro Hero 12 requires the GoPro app to be installed before you can use the camera. Many currently used devices are not compatible with the app, therefore making use of the camera difficult to impossible for new owners or upon camera factory reset. There's also the question of what data the app collects and whether it requires login and or camera activation.
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|-
|[[Honda]]
|moved the garage door opener from a button on the mirror to a [[Pay-walling|paywall]] [[subscription service]]
|<ref>https://reddit.com/r/mildlyinfuriating/comments/1sd54jo/replaced_my_honda_with_a_new_one_after_an/</ref>
|-
|[[Hyundai]] (BlueLink)
|Hyundai ads in-car advertisements for subscription services, while you're driving, after telling you not to look at the screen while driving.
The advertisement is a full page of text, that you can't either enable or disable while you're driving. Your only options are to (A) select later, to delay the ad for another driving session, or (2) Pull over and park your car so you can (C) enable the feature at $10/mo or (iii) dig through settings menus to figure out how to disable the message permanently (which will probably only be actually permanent until the battery in the car dies).
BlueLink appears to be marketing lingo for their cell-phone-linked remote start/stop, lock/unlock, and climate control features. The only feature that should actually need a cellular subscription appears to be stolen vehicle recovery.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Hank |date=2026-16-04 |title=Should I Sue Hyundai? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ1RUyOF2Rk |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref>https://connected-mobility.hyundai.com/what-we-do/connected-car-services/bluelink</ref>
|-
|[[Internet radios]]
|I'd like a page where I can share information about internet radios "openness." Few allow you to enter a radio station's URL (which I would consider the least intrusive option). Most depend on third-party websites or apps; [https://www.sangean.com/uk/blog/149 some of which have already bricked devices].
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|-
|[[itch.io]], [[Night School Studios]], [[Netflix]]
|In September 2024, users who purchased the game Oxenfree on itch.io were warned that the game was going to be pulled from the platform on October 1st. Consumers would not be able to download the installers after this date, so they would lose access unless they had them backed up. Users speculated that Netflix, the parent company of the development studio, had ordered the move; however, no response from Netflix or the developers was ever published. This is particularly notable because it is against itch.io's terms of service: "Users shall retain a license to this content even after the content is removed from the Service."
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=itch corp |date=15 Apr 2023 |title=itch.io Terms of Service |url=https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907004719/https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms |archive-date=7 Sep 2024 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=itch.io}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=ShawnS |date=31 Jan 2025 |title=OXENFREE |url=https://delistedgames.com/oxenfree/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321070400/https://delistedgames.com/oxenfree/ |archive-date=21 Mar 2025 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=Delisted Games}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Colp |first=Tyler |date=9 Sep 2024 |title=Another reminder that your digital library isn't forever: Oxenfree will be completely removed from Itch.io next month |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/another-reminder-that-your-digital-library-isn-t-forever-oxenfree-will-be-completely-removed-from-itch-io-next-month/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250523111125/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/another-reminder-that-your-digital-library-isn-t-forever-oxenfree-will-be-completely-removed-from-itch-io-next-month/ |archive-date=23 May 2025 |access-date=27 Jun 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref>
|-
|[[The Japan Times|Japan Times, The]]
|The Japan Times uses the DMCA to take down an open source study resource for the Genki and Quartet workbooks.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clydesdale |first=Seth |date=2025-09-11 |title=Important Information Regarding Genki and Quartet Study Resources |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/Important-Information-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-D1D21L4B1S |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251116072121/https://ko-fi.com/post/Important-Information-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-D1D21L4B1S |archive-date=16 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Update Regarding Genki and Quartet Study Resources DMCA Situation |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/Update-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-Study-Resources-Y8Y21M1F5E |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251115073152/https://ko-fi.com/post/Update-Regarding-Genki-and-Quartet-Study-Resources-Y8Y21M1F5E |archive-date=15 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=All Exercises for Genki/Quartet Study Resources Have Been Removed |url=https://ko-fi.com/post/All-Exercises-for-GenkiQuartet-Study-Resources-Wi-R6R81M8LLN |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113045244/https://ko-fi.com/post/All-Exercises-for-GenkiQuartet-Study-Resources-Wi-R6R81M8LLN |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[Kangaroo]]
|A home security camera company that locks local hardware features behind software subscriptions and paywalls that ultimately could work without external service. Access to local storage playback via the app is locked behind a paywall; see reviews. "cooldown" periods provide a risk to security as motion detection does not activate until after a fixed period of time on no-subscription plans with clips that only capture 12 seconds of recording, this was not always the case.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Delaney |first=John |date=2021-11-09 |title=Kangaroo Indoor + Outdoor Cam Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/kangaroo-indoor-plus-outdoor-cam |url-status=live |archive-date=2024-08-11 |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=PCMag}}</ref><ref>https://www.bestbuy.com/product/kangaroo-indoor-outdoor-wired-1080p-security-camera-white/J3QLYYW64G/sku/6506997/reviews?pageSize=20</ref>
|-
|[[Klarna]]
|A German consumer rights association reports that payment provider Klarna requests access to users' bank accounts for payment purposes, but instead of just initiating transactions as the user expects, it also scans the complete list of transactions on the user's bank account for advertising purposes and also forwards that data to third parties. Klarna also faces criticism for encouraging debt by offering "buy now, pay later" schemes.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/apps/klarna-verbraucherschuetzer-kritisieren-konto-schnueffelei-bei-zahlungsdienstleister-a-de915cd3-997e-4b39-ad67-bb5d22969635}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.chip.de/news/Warnung-vor-KlarnaVebraucherschuetzer-sind-besorgt_185654845.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cb-News-Sicherheit-Verbraucherzentrale-warnt-Klarna-analysiert-Kontodaten-39229147.html}}</ref>
|-
|[[Kohls]]
|There is no option to delete your account on their website
|
|-
|[[KOSA]]
|KOSA claims to make kids safer, but it’s really a dangerous censorship bill that would give the U.S. government unprecedented control over the internet. This would put youth in danger by preventing them from accessing potentially life-saving resources.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fight for the Future |first= |date=2026-01-24 |title=Reject online censorship. Tell lawmakers to oppose KOSA! |url=https://www.stopkosa.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Stop KOSA}}</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250228145348/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/Katy-ISD-blocks-LGBTQ-resources-suicide-16647274.php</ref>
|-
|[[LBRY]] Foundation, [[Odysee]]
|Community first decentralization & Odysee's plan to enable censorship by switching away from the opensource LBRY network.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=The LBRY Foundation |url=https://lbry.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211161516/https://lbry.org/ |archive-date=11 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-08-08 |quote=The LBRY community invites everyone to join us in building a more free and open way to share content and information online.}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Watson |first=RT |date=6 Jun 2024 |title=Decentralized YouTube alternative Odysee acquired by Forward Research despite content concerns |url=https://www.theblock.co/post/298888/decentralized-youtube-alternative-odysee-acquired-by-forward-research-despite-content-concerns |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127094918/https://www.theblock.co/post/298888/decentralized-youtube-alternative-odysee-acquired-by-forward-research-despite-content-concerns |archive-date=27 Nov 2025|access-date=16 Aug 2025 |work=The Block}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Li |first=Jun |last2=Grintsvayg |first2=Alex |last3=Kauffman |first3=Jeremy |last4=Fleming |first4=Charles |date=2020 |title=LBRY: A Blockchain-Based Decentralized Digital Content Marketplace |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9126007 |url-status=live |journal=2020 IEEE International Conference on Decentralized Applications and Infrastructures (DAPPS) |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=IEEE |doi=10.1109/DAPPS49028.2020.00005 |isbn=978-1-7281-6978-1 |url-access=registration |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250825221749/https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9126007/ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025 |via=IEEE Xplore}}</ref>
|-
|[[LexisNexis]]
|Data breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[LG]]
|LG discontinued its LG Bluetooth Remote app (including plugins such as "btc4") making it non-public on the Play Store and making Bluetooth controllable devices (like for example the CM2630B) half as useful, without even publishing neither the protocol used to control such devices nor the source code of the app.
|
|-
|Linkedin
|LinkedIn has been caught running a massive, silent operation that scans the local computers of its visitors. Every time a user visits <code>linkedin.com</code> using a Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Edge, Brave), a hidden JavaScript program executes to check for the presence of over '''6,000 specific browser extensions.'''
|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHj6IvBmlpU
https://browsergate.eu/
|-
|[[Lowe's]]
|Lowe's uses flock cameras and other AI powered cameras to collect data and build a profile on "prospective, current, or former Lowe's customers". Their cameras point away from their stores.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |date=6 Aug 2025 |title=Home Depot and Lowe's Share Data From Hundreds of AI Cameras With Cops |url=https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216173226/https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2026|access-date=15 Sep 2025 |website=404 Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Aug 2025 |title=Lowe’s U.S. Privacy Statement |url=https://www.lowes.com/l/about/privacy-and-security-statement |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251228013530/https://www.lowes.com/l/about/privacy-and-security-statement |archive-date=28 Dec 2025|access-date=15 Sep 2025 |website=Lowe's}}</ref>
|-
|[[Marquis]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[Meta]] and [[YouTube]]
|In a recent trial Meta and Google were found liable for making there social media platforms addictive and harmful
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jury finds Meta and Google negligent in social media harms trial |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5746125/meta-youtube-social-media-trial-verdict |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Campaigners welcome Meta and YouTube's defeat in landmark social media addiction trial |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c747x7gz249o |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/technology/social-media-trial-verdict.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Microsoft]]
|Microsoft's Android keyboard app SwiftKey set to make it impossible to backup user data without a Microsoft Account, backups must be stored in Microsoft cloud
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=18 Mar 2026 |title=SwiftKey will soon require a Microsoft account to save your typing info. |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/896859/swiftkey-will-soon-require-a-microsoft-account-to-save-your-typing-info}}</ref>
|-
|[[Microsoft]]
|Locked the developers of Windscribe, Veracrypt, and, Wireguard out of their accounts
|
|-
|[[Microsoft]] Rewards
|Used to be a good program, but over the last few years they've implemented a number of anti-user policies including extensive cool-downs for earning points on Bing, and making it more difficult to redeem points. There are multiple reports on r/microsoftrewards of people getting banned or restricted when they have over $100 worth of points that they are trying to redeem. They've also removed points opportunities that used to be interesting and engaging.
|
|-
|[[Minut]]
|Minute sells sensors and alarms. They released an alarm (Point) on kickstarter that long after release got a firmware update adding forced subscription if more than one person wanted to use the alarm.
|<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/minut/pointthe-friendly-home-alarm</ref>
<ref>https://www.minut.com/</ref>
|-
|[https://www.mobvoi.com/us Mobvoi/Ticwatch]
|Written with partially help of AI
Mobvoi has gained a reputation for a "launch and forget" pattern, where devices are marketed with the promise of future software updates that often arrive years late or are cancelled entirely. This pattern—most notable in the two-year delay of the Wear OS 3 update—frequently leaves consumers with hardware that lacks core advertised features, such as Google Assistant. Additionally, the company faces criticism for restrictive warranty policies and a difficult return process that often places the financial burden of shipping and replacement on the user. Once the app was abandoned subscription was still available for purchases but was unusable
|https://9to5google.com/2025/12/05/mobvoi-ticwatch-wear-os-dead/
https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/mobvoi-explains-wear-os-3-holdup
https://www.pcmag.com/news/another-wear-os-smartwatch-maker-appears-to-have-given-up
https://www.xda-developers.com/mobvoi-lying-ticwatch-hardware/
|-
|Multiple
|Several legal cases involving forced arbitration in some manner; many of these relate to other anticonsumer practices, such as when Wells Fargo illegally opened up ~3.5M fake checking and credit accounts in customers' names. Highly advised to deeply scrub for supplementary sources.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=Apr 16, 2019 |title=Fact Sheet: Cases Tossed Out of Court Because of Forced Arbitration Causes and Class Action Bans |url=https://www.centerjd.org/content/fact-sheet-cases-tossed-out-court-because-forced-arbitration-causes-and-class-action-bans#_ftn1 |access-date=Feb 12, 2026 |website=Center for Justice & Democracy at New York Law School |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251013145327/https://centerjd.org/content/fact-sheet-cases-tossed-out-court-because-forced-arbitration-causes-and-class-action-bans |archive-date=13 Oct 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[MuseGroup]] (MuseSounds)
|Releasing more and more subscription sound packs while previously released one-time purchase sound packs are full of bugs/issues and have gone without updates for sometimes over a year. They have also increased the price of one-time purchase packs by about 500% while still providing no additional or improved functionality.
They also added unsolicited popups advertising their paid sound packs at startup of the open source MuseScore application, as well as buttons and commands for their cloud service to the home screen, which cannot be disabled. They previously ran into controversy when changing the privacy policy of Audacity and tried to add tracking. The closed-source MuseHub application (which is required to download the free sound packs) connects to tracking services with neither a real opt-in nor an opt-out option. Newer versions of MuseHub now seem to [[Forced account|require an account]] to download free sound packs and sound effects, which previously was not the case. Muse Hub starts at every system launch by default and stays active in the background despite this not being required for its functionality. They also added proprietary parts to MuseScore (like the MuseSample), which is kept closed source. They also bought StaffPad and seem to have quietly ceased its development without publishing any statements.
|
|-
|[[NationStates]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[Navdy]], [[Harman International]]
|Device discontinued and no updates, device can be used offline for 1 year until it stops working.
https://www.reddit.com/r/navdy/
|
|-
|[[Navia]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[Netgear]] (internet networking equipment)
|Almost every Netgear internet router requires the creation of a new account to function as a router (see [[Forced account]]), where the TOS includes an agreement to binding arbitration. Most if not all devices are locked into proprietary firmware with no option to change. Some automatic updates have reportedly cause loss of performance with option to revert to a previous version, "bricking" the device in some cases.
Engages in anti-consumer practices, requiring a subscription for basic WiFi-router features such as parental controls. According to a blogpost by a senior employee, grew from "45% in 2016 to over 60% in 2019" of the US consumer router market. In 2025, Netgear is "being sued by TP-Link for a 'Smear Campaign' to Advance US Router Ban [of it's competitor TP-Link].
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=NETGEAR Terms and Conditions |url=https://www.netgear.com/about/terms-and-conditions/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What subscription plans are available for NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls? |url=https://kb.netgear.com/000062104/What-subscription-plans-are-available-for-NETGEAR-Smart-Parental-Controls |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Abhay Bhorkar |url=https://www.netgear.com/hub/author/abhorkar/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=TP-Link Accuses Netgear of 'Smear Campaign' to Advance US Router Ban |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/tp-link-accuses-netgear-of-smear-campaign-to-advance-us-router-ban?test_uuid=04IpBmWGZleS0I0J3epvMrC&test_variant=B |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[https://www.nexigroup.com/ Nexi S.p.A.]
|Nexi is a payment services provider based in Italy, which has been used by the [https://fsfe.org/ Free Software Foundation Europe] (FSFE) for ~ 15 years. They have allegedly been asking FSFE for personal information of FSFE executives and supporters and have recently cancelled their contract with FSFE.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-16 |title=450 FSFE supporters affected: Payment provider Nexi cancelled us |url=https://fsfe.org/news/2026/news-20260316-01.en.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260317162959/https://fsfe.org/news/2026/news-20260316-01.en.html |archive-date=2026-03-17 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=FSFE - Free Software Foundation Europe}}</ref>
|-
|[[Odido]] Netherlands B.V.
|Odido is an internet service provider in the Netherlands with a 10-15% market share [[https://www.acm.nl/nl/publicaties/acm-telecommonitor-derde-kwartaal-2025 79]]. On the 3rd of March 2026 a user reported that his Odido Zyxel EX5601-T1 router was (illegally) sending analytics data to a Turkish AI-company [[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/odido-router-verzamelt-analytics-van-je-huishouden-sipke-mellema-0uoie/ 80]]. The user reported on the 8th of March 2026 that the router silently stopped sending this data with no formal mention/patch from Odido. The user reported on the poor security of the router and that the analytics data contained the unencrypted names of local networks, the names of devices connected to these networks, and MAC-addresses. The poor security of Odido's routers follows a massive data leak of 6.2 million customers' full legal names, phone numbers, emails, bank account numbers, passport numbers and more [[https://tweakers.net/nieuws/244656/odido-waarschuwt-voor-datalek-miljoenen-klantgegevens-gestolen-bij-cyberaanval.html 81]].
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=ACM Telecommonitor derde kwartaal 2025 |url=https://www.acm.nl/nl/publicaties/acm-telecommonitor-derde-kwartaal-2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Odido-router verzamelt analytics van je huishouden |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/odido-router-verzamelt-analytics-van-je-huishouden-sipke-mellema-0uoie/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Odido waarschuwt voor datalek: miljoenen klantgegevens gestolen bij cyberaanval |url=https://tweakers.net/nieuws/244656/odido-waarschuwt-voor-datalek-miljoenen-klantgegevens-gestolen-bij-cyberaanval.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[OICA]] (European automotive lobby organisation)
|The OICA recently pushed for the right to emit sounds from quiet electric cars to make them as loud as conventional cars with combustion engine and against stricter noise regulation in cities. The fake engine noises in question are specifically not for safety purposes, but for emotional effect for the driver. However, instead of playing the noises only inside for just the driver to hear, the noise is to be played on speakers on the exterior, thus affecting the general public. Noise pollution has long been known to have adverse health effects. ''[NOTE: Similar to environmental aspects, greenwashing etc., we will have to find a good angle for how this fits the wiki. I would say it does match the general theme of manufacturers deliberately making their products worse for minor financial gain and lobbies pushing against things that are in public interest.]''
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krempl |first=Stefan |date=2026-01-07 |title=Sound Dictatorship vs. Quiet: The Battle for E-Car Roar |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Sound-Dictatorship-vs-Quiet-The-Battle-for-E-Car-Roar-11133630.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260108165124/https://www.heise.de/en/news/Sound-Dictatorship-vs-Quiet-The-Battle-for-E-Car-Roar-11133630.html |archive-date=8 Jan 2026|access-date=2026-01-08 |website=Heise Online}}</ref>
|-
|Pearl Abyss
|Crimson Desert engaged in hardware gatekeeping by purposely locking out support for Intel GPUs. Their response when people asked what was going on was, “Get a refund.” They failed to mention in their hardware requirements that Intel GPUs were not supported. Intel also reached out to Pearl Abyss over the course of Crimson Desert’s development to offer support but was ignored. Pearl Abyss has now backpedaled after public backlash and says they will offer Intel GPU support.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Intel suggests it was snubbed by Crimson Desert dev after reaching out "many times" about Arc GPUs – company says it provided "early hardware, drivers, and engineering resources" to studio |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/intel-suggests-it-was-snubbed-by-crimson-desert-dev-after-reaching-out-many-times-about-arc-gpus-company-says-it-provided-early-hardware-drivers-and-engineering-resources-to-studio |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert blocks Intel ARC GPUs from playing, studio asks owners to refund |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/crimson-desert-blocks-intel-arc-gpus-from-playing-studio-asks-owners-to-refund/#:~:text=Users%20on%20Reddit%20who%20discovered,resolution%20for%20Intel%20ARC%20owners. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert doesn't support Intel Arc GPUs on PC, it may never, and the devs say get a refund if you have one — they didn't warn players until launch |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/crimson-desert-doesnt-support-intel-arc-gpus-it-may-never-and-the-devs-say-get-a-refund-if-you-have-one |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert Doesn't Work on Intel GPUs, But Pearl Abyss Is Working On It |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/crimson-desert-doesnt-work-on-intel-gpus-but-pearl-abyss-is-working-on-it |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Regus]]
|A flexible office / workplace provider for freelancers, contractors, small businesses, etc.
This is specifically for their Virtual Office service. I am sure they apply these same predatory and deceptive tactics with the rest of their services as well.
Locks you into a contract for virtual services that they may terminate at any time. You can too only if you follow very specific and exaggerated terms. They will bill you for the entire agreement even with it terminated. You lose access to the services immediately upon termination but are forced to pay for the rest of the agreement. They are predatory with agreements and will not allow you to break them and will charge you for the entire thing regardless of what happens.
Forced arbitration. Force you to waive any right to class action lawsuits.
Contract comes with terms hidden in their "house rules" document, automatically opting the user into services they did not knowingly agree to, by default. These services are NOT included in the original contract in any way except through the referencing to other documents like the "Terms of Service" and "House Rules", not disclosed ahead of time. They clearly show a lower price and do not clearly show any of the additional services you unknowingly opt into.
They lead you into a low price to get the agreement signed. Once signed, you cannot escape or get out with their terms. You find out later that they've made you agree to additional services by default. They require YOU to jump through hoops to opt out of those services, and they bury the information to do it.
They have predatory auto-renewals for the contracts that are typically months to years long, with many being sold into higher 1 year+ contracts for "savings" and "discounts". These auto-renewals cannot be canceled without 3 MONTHS notice! If it renews, you are locked into another term which you will be forced to pay in full even if you terminate.
This is all for VIRTUAL office services that cost nothing to provide or remove.
A lot of deceptive patterns including, but not limited to: Comparison prevention, hidden costs, hidden subscription, obstruction.
|[https://serviceagreement.regus.com/TermsPDF/VirtualOffice/Global20250301.pdf Terms of Service]
[https://serviceagreement.regus.com/PreviewHouseRule.aspx?guidId=840179ed-c894-4e91-8ccc-3b882bcf4b38 House Rules]
[https://www.myregus.com/help#:~:text=you%20can%20give%20notice%20to%20terminate%20your%20agreement%20at%20anytime%20in%20your%20online%20account%20%2D%20but%20you%20will%20be%20charged%20until%20the%20end%20of%20your%20agreement%20term. Help Page - terminate anytime but pay everything]
|-
|[https://www.skystone.games/ Skystone Games]
|Boundary, a multiplayer online-only first-person shooter, got shut down just a year after its release by Skystone Games, and its publishing rights relinquished, citing "ongoing delays and a lack of updates from the developer". Studio Surgical Scalpels (the developer) stated that the publisher decisions were "extremely sudden and unreasonable", and attempted to "regain the rights to boundary". The game has been offline for more than a year at the time of writing, and no refunds or communications to the user base has been made by Skystone Games.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-19 |title=Boundary - End of service notice |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1364020/view/4209257868262605607?l=english |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Steam |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251021143111/https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1364020/view/4209257868262605607?l=english |archive-date=21 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=Boundary Shut Down: Who's to Blame? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr8IhV1fovE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Kr8IhV1fovE |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|Samsung Galaxy S25
|Samsung s25 ultra one ui 8.5 android 16 needs location for blue light shield even for custom schedule.
|[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Djw8iz7HWTt_uywYQywnMVDwmnBGPt_t/view?pli=1 Screenshot]
|-
|[[Sony]], Sony Online Entertainment/[[Daybreak Game Company]]
|Selling off SOE to the investment firm Columbus Nova, all games published by SOE were delisted without prior notice to consumers or developers, and licenses were revoked as well.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=S |first=Shawn |date=Jun 10, 2016 |title=Akimi Village |url=https://delistedgames.com/akimi-village/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127030103/https://delistedgames.com/akimi-village/ |archive-date=27 Nov 2025|website=Delisted Games}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Rachel |date=Feb 2, 2015 |title=SOE acquired, becomes Daybreak Game Company |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/soe-acquired-becomes-daybreak-game-company |work=GamesIndustry.biz |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260204235742/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/soe-acquired-becomes-daybreak-game-company |archive-date=4 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Sony]]
|Sony implements surge pricing/discounts on a per-user basis on their playstation store by profiling users, similar to airlines, car rentals, and concert tickets... only the goods are digital only and downloadable rather than physical media. Critics are calling this Surveillance Pricing.
|<ref>https://youtu.be/t8yVc6Uarho?si=fJeCzxqmxgyB_tLq</ref>
|-
|[[Spectora]]
|Spectora is a home inspection software used by many home inspectors, a very important portion of the home buying process. Spectora has announced they intend to insert ads April 7th. The ads look like the home inspector (a independent entity) is recommending outside services. Spectora has also purchased other home inspection platform HomeGauge on April 4th. With Fixle being in the purchese which is the ad network they now own. There are also allegations (have not been proven) of sale of the inspection data (something that remains confidential with client controlling confidentiality) to insurance companies, and Home Lenders. Causing increased rates on historical inspection data even when those things could be a condition to close on the home.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forced Partnership |url=https://forum.nachi.org/t/forced-partnership/266387 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fixle by Spectora: Post-Inspection Tools for Home Buyers |url=https://www.spectora.com/fixle/?utm_campaign=41151531-2026%20Fixle%20Launch%20Campaign&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=411347418&utm_content=411347418&utm_source=hs_automation |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Spectora acquires HomeGauge |url=https://coverager.com/spectora-acquires-homegauge/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Starbucks]]
|Data Breach affecting employees March 2026
|
|-
|[[Superbox]]
|Android TV box manufacturer Superbox remotely locks consumers' devices if they were sold below the manufacturer's minimum specified prices and asks consumers to contact the retailer when they complain.
They are not the first to do something like this. [[Deye]] locked down inverters in the US that they suspected might be gray imports.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=You'll Own Nothing and Be Happy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5-rAyFQrk |website=YouTube |type=Video |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=5I5-rAyFQrk |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Symantec]]
|Product: Norton Internet Security.
This one might be tough to document, because it's been slowly going on for the past 15 years. Norton used to offer a great internet security package with a ton of good and useful services for a decent price. Unfortunately, slowly over the years, they've gone further and further down the rabbit hole of charging more money for fewer and fewer features, and then locking some of those features behind even more paywalls and micro-transactions.
|
|-
|[[Steam]] by Valve software
|As of 2026 games bought to work and made for Windows 7, are no longer accessible on Windows 7 OS - A system they were made to work on and sold for. Titles that might not even work on modern Windows instalments.
This is done by forcing updates before launching of any title.
If there was a patch it will always fail before finishing update process.
Thus if user is unwilling to move to next installment of supported the operating system for whatever reason, which is not valve's decision to make. User is locked out of his purchase.
|[https://disk.yandex.com/i/ZPOVZYq11i8nJQ][https://disk.yandex.com/i/pBkHSsIhU5KqmA][https://disk.yandex.com/i/-mGVJAJHSTX-5Q][https://disk.yandex.com/i/I-NVZmXmfBrBEQ]
|-
|[[Telus]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[TriZetto]]
|Data Breach March 2026
|
|-
|[[Universal Audio]]
|Product: UAD (Volt) Audio Interfaces
Universal Audio (UAD) [[Forced account|requires users to create an account and sign in]] to their software to use their audio interfaces–this is a necessary step and without it the interfaces are unusable.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official UAD setup guide for "Volt" audio interfaces |url=https://help.uaudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/4409233546644-How-to-set-up-your-Volt-Interface}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Review of Volt 876 audio interface by Julian Krause |url=https://youtu.be/CCnttwq9jMw?si=DcwA97e3pSfp5rlr&t=803}}</ref>
|-
|[[UP3]] By [[Jawbone]]
|Approximately 2011, Pioneering startup company from San Francisco, had revolutionary fitness trackers. In 2017 with no notice to customers they stole personal data and shut down app which in turn, bricked devices. Highly likely went bankrupt and sold to sister company to manipulate customer services and rights. Now owned by Aliph brands.
|
|-
|[[Vive]]
|In 2022, Vive discontinued the original Vive Facial Tracker module a year after the original release, then released an updated model with proprietary firmware that blocked use on other 3rd party VR headset, while only allowing the new model to work with their new locked-down headset. The 2021 version of the face tracker's long term support was seemingly cut overnight without any software updates since 2021.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vive Team |date=2022-08-07 |title=VIVE Focus 3 gets Facial Tracker, and Eye Tracker |url=https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619155201/https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |archive-date=2025-06-19 |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=Vive Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=StateKi |date=2023-10-10 |title=Post by StatekTi on X |url=https://nitter.catsarch.com/StatekTi/status/1733954156379963393 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260520140619/https://nitter.catsarch.com/StatekTi/status/1733954156379963393 |archive-date=20 May 2026 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=X (Formerly Twitter)}}</ref>
|-
|Wheatstone Corporation
|Wheatstone Corporation are a manufacturer of professional broadcast equipment, mainly audio consoles and interfaces that utilise their proprietary Wheatnet audio over IP protocol.
Wheatstone restricts access to firmware updates, software configuration tools and software. You must open a support ticked in order for them to send you a download link to these software tools, they make it very difficult to access software required to make their hardware audio interfaces work, even stating they want proof of purchase (not just a licence key) before they will even give you the download link. Managing licences is also non-existent and you will need to contact support, and as such a fee is imposed.
|
|-
|White House
|The White House made a news app, but this app tracks your location every 4.5 minutes through third-party OneSignal
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deep Humor |date=2026-03-30 |title=Don't Download This App |url=https://youtu.be/d5OTwcRxaTw?si=REEdhGeYPelHGLEQ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tixon |first=Bernadette B. |date=2026-03-29 |title=White House App Found Tracking Users' Exact Location Every 4.5 Minutes via Third-Party Server |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/white-house-app-gps-tracking-controversy-1788974 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=[[International Business Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Milden |first=Dashia |date=2026-03-30 |title=I Downloaded (and Deleted) the White House App So You Don't Have To. It's a Hot Mess |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/i-downloaded-and-deleted-the-white-house-app-so-you-dont-have-to-its-a-hot-mess/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=CNET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-30 |title=White House app sparks concern over location tracking and privacy issues |url=https://www.tradingview.com/news/cointelegraph:565f766ef094b:0-white-house-app-sparks-concern-over-location-tracking-and-privacy-issues/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=[[TradingView]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[WHMCS]]
|Discontinuation of support and updates for WHMCS legacy “Owned” licenses, forcing users who want ongoing updates or technical support to switch to subscription licensing and pay recurring fees rather than continue with the original owned model. This change affects all holders of legacy owned licenses and alters the long-term terms under which those licenses were originally sold
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=WHMCS Knowledgebase |url=https://www.whmcs.com/members/index.php/knowledgebase/70/Support-and-Updates-Expiration.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251211021038/https://www.whmcs.com/members/index.php/knowledgebase/70/Support-and-Updates-Expiration.html |archive-date=11 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Important pricing changes to your WHMCS owned license Mailer |url=https://www.whmcs.com/members/mailings/?k=price21-emailo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215233549/https://www.whmcs.com/members/mailings/?k=price21-emailo |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|[[Wireless Power Consortium]]
|After monopolizing wireless charging market Qi turned from an open standard into a proprietary.
Version 1.3 introduced "secure authentication between the transmitter and the receiver", i.e. in order to operate every charger must include an expensive proprietary chip licensed only to certified members. This results in increased development and manufacturing costs directly passed onto consumer. Version 2.2, unlike previous versions, "is available for WPC Members only".
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qi Certification Is Changing and We've Got You Covered |url=https://www.nxp.com/company/about-nxp/smarter-world-blog/BL-QI-CERTIFICATION-IS-CHANGING |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251104012700/https://www.nxp.com/company/about-nxp/smarter-world-blog/BL-QI-CERTIFICATION-IS-CHANGING |archive-date=4 Nov 2025|website=NXP Semiconductors}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download the Qi Specifications |url=https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/knowledge-base/specifications/download-the-qi-specifications/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251104094044/https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/knowledge-base/specifications/download-the-qi-specifications/ |archive-date=4 Nov 2025|website=Wireless Power Consortium}}</ref>
|-
|[[Wizards of the Coast]]
|Wizards of the Coast (WotC) seems to be positioning itself to move away from publishing physical books that last forever in favor of pushing digital-only sales and micro-transactions of content and subscriptions. They attempted to amend the OGL (Open Game License) to include language that would require third party authors of D&D content to give up rights to their own content, so WotC can sell it to consumers without crediting the original authors.
Notably, as a direct response to these anti-consumer activities and policies, a select few of the third party publishers have instead decided to come out with their own systems that are not beholden to WotC's whims. A couple of examples include ''Draw Steel'' and ''Daggerheart''. An earlier conflict prompted Paizo to release their own version of the classic D20-based tabletop RPG, ''Pathfinder'', when WotC started releasing the fourth edition of it's rule-set.
|
|-
|[[Wolfgang Puck]]
|Some of the bread makers have anti repair screws in them to prevent people from repairing them themselves. Needs more citations.
|
|-
|[[World Orb]]
|World Network (Sam Altman/Open AI) scheme to collect biometric data on all people. Tied to cryptocurrency, AI schemes. Supposedly way for people to show they are human (run by the people who are trying to make a profit from AI).
|
|-
|[[Zhiyun]]
|Like competing products from [[DJI]], Zhiyun video gimbals require a Chinese smartphone app, internet access and an [[Forced account|account]] to activate on first use.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=ZHIYUN Tutorials |date=25 Jul 2023 |title=ZHIYUN CRANE 2S Activation Tutorial |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CjNp6pWNoQ |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=_CjNp6pWNoQ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026 |website=YouTube}}</ref>
|}

==List of themes not yet covered==
Consumer Rights Wiki is not an encyclopedia.

*Before proposing or making a theme article, see if you can find an article that covers the topic on wikipedia, or some other reference. If you can, just use a reference to that.
*Check the list of theme articles [[:Category:common terms]], to be sure there isn't already an article on the topic, or one closely related. Sometimes a theme may be covered by generalizing an existing article.

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Theme
!Summary of Theme
!Refs
|-
|Car manufacturers replacing physical controls by touch-screens
|This is increasingly common, and puts drivers at risk. Some corps pretend touchscreens are a "premium" or "modern" feature, but are typically cheaper for them
|
|-
|[[Content delivery network]] ([[CDN]])
|[[wikipedia:Content_delivery_network|WP]], see also [[Cloud (service)]]. While helpful, they can infer the browsing history of millions of users across sites. The bigger their monopoly, the more cross-site tracking power they have. Even GDPR has been against using CDNs in some situations. Examples of CDN: [[wikipedia:Amazon_CloudFront|CloudFront]] (see [[Amazon]] [[wikipedia:Amazon_Web_Services|AWS]]), [[Cloudflare]], [[Microsoft]] [[wikipedia:Microsoft_Azure|Azure]], [[wikipedia:Fastly|Fastly]], etc...
|
|-
|[[Copyright]]
*Consumer License Agreement (CLA)
|Copyright is an important theme, please mention what it covers, what are the exceptions (e.g. [[wikipedia:first-sale doctrine|first-sale doctrine]]), what laws cover it ([[Digital Millennium Copyright Act|DMCA]]), what exceptions the laws provide (e.g. panorama, see Refs column)
*Cover CLA as an incident type (example company/project [[Canonical]]/[[LXD]]), it's a form of forced contract assigning the company (source code maintainer) the copyright to open source contributions, allowing them to use them in closed source releases.
|[https://www.copyrightexceptions.eu/ CopyrightExceptions.eu]
*[https://drewdevault.com/blog/Dont-sign-a-CLA-2/ Seriously, don't sign a CLA]
*[https://stgraber.org/2023/12/12/lxd-now-re-licensed-and-under-a-cla/ LXD now re-licensed and under a CLA]
|}

==List of companies doing the right thing==
It would be helpful to include examples of companies doing the right thing, even if they aren't, strictly speaking, consumer products.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Company
!Good deed
!Refs
|-
|APSystems
|After requests from users, the company released a firmware update that adds a local API to their EZ-1M solar micro inverter, allowing it to remain fully usable if the company ends support for the device
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=APsystems EZHI Local API User Manual |url=https://global.apsystems.com/document/apsystems-ezhi-local-api-user-manual/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251107061040/https://global.apsystems.com/document/apsystems-ezhi-local-api-user-manual/ |archive-date=7 Nov 2025|website=global.apsystems.com}}</ref>
|-
|Concept2
|Readily provides parts and diagrams. Exists under a [https://www.concept2.com/about/perpetual-purpose-trust Perpetual Purpose Trust].
|
|-
|Core Devices (from creator of Pebble Smartwatches)
|Not strictly Core Devices, but when Pebble was sold to Fitbit, the servers remained online for some time, and the Pebble app was updated to allow the Rebble community project to take over some of the Pebble server-side functionality. All backers of the upcoming Pebble 2 series of watches were refunded in full, despite it being a crowd-funding campaign.
Following Google's acquisition of Fitbit and after many years, Google released much of the Pebble Smart Watch source code on github (excluding proprietary libraries). Core Devices and Rebble replaced the usage of the proprietary libraries with open source alternatives, and released new Android and iOS apps, not only supporting the new core devices, but bringing updated support to legacy Pebble devices.
|
|-
|Fairphone
|The new Fairphones (5th and 6th generation) are availible with stock android as well as e/os, which is a fork of lineage os and a european alternative cloud provider (murena) instead of google. This has many privacy features (app tracker blocker, tor network usage, and gps spoofing) availible in a few clicks. Also degoogle apps (microg, safetynet, ...) are preinstalled therefore it is w´possible to install everything also from playstore with an anonymous account. As e/os is a fork of lineage os and there is an official guide to flash the fairphone with e/os and is officially supported, flashing lineage os is very easy.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-24 |title=How to manually install Android on your Fairphone |url=https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/18896094650513-How-to-manually-install-Android-on-your-Fairphone |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Fairphone (Gen. 6) with privacy first /e/OS |url=https://shop.fairphone.com/the-fairphone-gen-6-e-operating-system |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|Framework
|They have 10/10 repair score by iFixit site for most of their products. They also support right to repair themselves.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sustainability |url=https://frame.work/sustainability |url-status=live |website=[[Framework]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frauenheim |first=Carsten |title=Framework Laptop 13 Repair |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Framework_Laptop |url-status=live |website=[[iFixit]]}}</ref>
|-
|Home Assistant
|Open-source smart home platform that provides local control, automation, and interoperability for a wide range of smart home devices. Provides support for many cloud devices after they're subject to [[discontinuation bricking]].
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Assistant |url=https://www.home-assistant.io/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129222300/https://www.home-assistant.io/ |archive-date=2026-01-29 |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref>
|-
|Noctua
|Extremely long support for old products and availability of upgrade kits
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=LMG Clips |date=19 Feb 2026 |title=The Last CPU Cooler You Will Ever Buy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3g4-fb6u90 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=D3g4-fb6u90 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|Numatic International
|A UK based manufacture of commercial and consumer wet/dry floor cleaning products (vacuums, scrubbers, floor buffers) that provides a robust library of technical documents, parts breakdowns, data sheets and training for free on both new and existing products without the need to login, pay additional fees or be an approved repair facility.
|
|-
|Oral-B
|When installing the Android App, there is no login, and the user is asked for analytics tracking consent.
|
|-
|Orange Pi (Shenzhen Xunlong Software Co., Ltd.)
|Commitment to Open Source Hardware and Transparency. (written with help of AI)
Public Schematics, Open Documentation (extensive datasheets for the SoCs), Right to Repair Friendly by using standardized components and providing the "map" (schematics) to the board. Community-Centric: hey actively support the "maker" ecosystem by allowing third-party OS developers (like Armbian) easy access to the hardware information needed to keep older boards running for a decade or more.
|http://www.orangepi.org/index.html
http://www.orangepi.org/html/serviceAndSupport/index.html
|-
|Philips
|Added files for replacement parts to Printables so you can 3D print parts for your Philips products
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philips |url=https://www.printables.com/@Philips |url-status=live |website=Printables}}</ref>
|-
|ratgdo
|A garage door opener controller developed by Paul Wieland, allowing you to locally control it (namely Chamberlain openers that would otherwise require the MyQ app for smart home features).
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wieland |first=Paul |title=About - ratgdo |url=https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213022055/https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref>
|-
|Reticulum
|Reticulum is an open-source, decentralized networking stack designed to communicate between practically any wireless device, even without internet. Its purpose is to provide fully anonymous end-to-end encrypted communication by default, especially in the age of government surveillance. The Reticulum network, protocol, and hardware are not tied any company in particular but were initially created by Github user 'markqvist'. Honorable mention to NomadNet, which is a network of nodes that serve webpages, similar to the internet, that communicate via Reticulum.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=markqvist |title=Reticulum Network |url=https://reticulum.network/ |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Reticulum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222180553/https://reticulum.network/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>
|-
|RME Audio
|Audio equipment manufacturer that provides reliable, high-quality audio interfaces and equipment with driver and firmware support that spans 15+ years. Extensive documentation and support for both Mac, Windows, and USB Class-Compliant machines on all of their products across several OS generations ensures compatibility, transparency, and a dedication for keeping old hardware alive.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2026 |title=RME |url=https://www.rme-usa.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Apr 2026 |website=RME-usa.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2026 |title=RME Downloads |url=https://www.rme-usa.com/downloads.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 Apr 2026 |website=RME-usa.com}}</ref>
|-
|stevesgames.co.uk
|Will never put ads or in-app purchases in their computer games and will make gamees available for free after securing the companys future.
|
|-
|Sweetwater Sound
|The largest US-focused audio and music retailer that offers one of the best customer support systems to customers. Provides near 24x7 support with each customer being designated to a dedicated "sales engineer" who becomes the primary point of contact, with support networks that have direct contact to product vendors. Also contributes to more than 600 non-profits across the US. Also keeps outdated or obsolete product pages online as references, acting as a sort of music product database for most audio vendors.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Apr 2026 |title=Why Choose Sweetwater? |url=https://www.sweetwater.com/about/why-choose-sweetwater/ |url-status=live |access-date=30 Apr 2026 |website=Sweetwater.com}}</ref>
|-
|Tektronix
|Provided extensive product data on unsupported products to a museum, vintageTEK, and thus to tekwiki and the rest of the community.
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lenihan |first=Thomas F. |date=2012-02-28 |title=Copyright Notice |url=https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250828004431/https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |archive-date=2025-08-28 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=vintageTEK museum}}</ref>
|-
|Ulanzi
|The company offers a tutorial on how users can mix their own fog juice to use with Ulanzi mini fog machines from readily available low-cost ingredients, whereas competitors sell proprietary fog juice at extortionate prices, refuse to release the formula and refuse to honour the warranty if users use anything but the OEM brand with their machines.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tutorial {{!}} How to DIY Ulanzi FM01 Fog Machine Juice? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiq1B6-dcEM |type=Video}} ([https://preservetube.com/watch?v=qiq1B6-dcEM Archived])</ref>
|-
|ZSA
|This company produces programmable ergonomic keyboards. They have 10/10 repair score by iFixit site for one of their keyboards <ref>{{Cite web |title=ErgoDox EZ Keyboard Repairability Assessment |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/ErgoDox+EZ+Keyboard+Repairability+Assessment/125077}}</ref>. They also support right to repair themselves <ref>{{Cite web |title=Supporting the Right to Repair |url=https://blog.zsa.io/2105-right-to-repair/}}</ref>. They have their own web software to modify keyboard layout <ref>{{Cite web |title=Voyager default layout |url=https://configure.zsa.io/voyager/layouts/default/latest/2}}</ref>, but it's possible to download source code of your layout and compile and flash it yourself using their fork of the QMK <ref>{{Cite web |title=QMK, forked for ZSA's Oryx Configurator (to safeguard stability) |url=https://github.com/zsa/qmk_firmware/}}</ref>. The flashing can be done with standard tools, without any signing and bootloader unlocking.
|
|}

==See also==
*[[Louis Rossmann - Video Directory]]
*[[Other Channels - Video Directory|Other Channels - Video Directory]]

==Reference List==
<references />

Google Maps

2026-06-05T12:03:44Z

SinexTitan: smoll

{{ProductCargo|ArticleType=Service|Category=|Company=Google|Description=|InProduction=Yes|Logo=Google Maps logo.svg|ProductLine=|ReleaseYear=2005|Website=https://www.google.com/maps}}

'''{{Wplink|Google Maps}}''' is a web mapping platform developed by [[Google]]. It was first unveiled on 08 February, 2005. Since then it has become the one of the largest mapping platforms and the most popular.{{Citation needed}}

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

==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]].

===Restricting access without an account===
Google now restricts data visible on Google Maps behind an account sign-in (see [[Forced account]]). Requiring users that wish to view reviews or photos of a location to have a Google account and be signed in.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gunther |first=Cory |date=2026-02-19 |title=Google Maps will make you sign in to get its best features |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/google-maps-is-now-hiding-reviews-and-more-unless-you-sign-in/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260605113429/https://www.howtogeek.com/google-maps-is-now-hiding-reviews-and-more-unless-you-sign-in/ |archive-date=2026-06-05 |access-date=2026-06-05 |website=How-To Geek}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Mr-MuffinMan |date=2026-02-17 |title=Can't view images without logging in? |url=https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/1r74v0f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260605114410/https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/1r74v0f |archive-date=2026-06-05 |access-date=2026-06-05 |website=Redlib}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/jogetgemoy69 |date=2026-02-14 |title=Google Maps now forces you to sign-in |url=https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/1r4iauf/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260605114524/https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/1r4iauf/ |archive-date=2026-06-05 |access-date=2026-06-05 |website=Redlib}}</ref> This also forces users to agree to Google's TOS and data collection policies. Which is then aggregated with data from other Google services, such as YouTube and Google Search, and then sold to advertisers through the Google Adsense program to deliver targeted ads to customers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-04 |title=Google and YouTube Will Pay Record $170 Million for Alleged Violations of Children’s Privacy Law |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/09/google-youtube-will-pay-record-170-million-alleged-violations-childrens-privacy-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260605113905/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/09/google-youtube-will-pay-record-170-million-alleged-violations-childrens-privacy-law |archive-date=2026-06-05 |access-date=2026-06-05 |website=Federal Trade Commission}}</ref>

===Example incident two (''date'')===
...

==Consumer friendly alternatives==

*[https://www.openstreetmap.org/ OpenStreetMap]

==See also==

*

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Google Maps

2026-06-05T12:02:24Z

SinexTitan: Google Craps

{{ProductCargo|ArticleType=Service|Category=|Company=Google|Description=|InProduction=Yes|Logo=Google Maps logo.svg|ProductLine=|ReleaseYear=2005|Website=https://www.google.com/maps}}

'''{{Wplink|Google Maps}}''' is a web mapping platform developed by Google. It was first unveiled on 08 February, 2005. Since then it has become the one of the largest mapping platforms and the most popular.{{Citation needed}}

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

==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]].

===Restricting access without an account===
Google now restricts data visible on Google Maps behind an account sign-in (see [[Forced account]]). Requiring users that wish to view reviews or photos of a location to have a Google account and be signed in.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gunther |first=Cory |date=2026-02-19 |title=Google Maps will make you sign in to get its best features |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/google-maps-is-now-hiding-reviews-and-more-unless-you-sign-in/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260605113429/https://www.howtogeek.com/google-maps-is-now-hiding-reviews-and-more-unless-you-sign-in/ |archive-date=2026-06-05 |access-date=2026-06-05 |website=How-To Geek}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Mr-MuffinMan |date=2026-02-17 |title=Can't view images without logging in? |url=https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/1r74v0f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260605114410/https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/1r74v0f |archive-date=2026-06-05 |access-date=2026-06-05 |website=Redlib}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/jogetgemoy69 |date=2026-02-14 |title=Google Maps now forces you to sign-in |url=https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/1r4iauf/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260605114524/https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/1r4iauf/ |archive-date=2026-06-05 |access-date=2026-06-05 |website=Redlib}}</ref> This also forces users to agree to Google's TOS and data collection policies. Which is then aggregated with data from other Google services, such as YouTube and Google Search, and then sold to advertisers through the Google Adsense program to deliver targeted ads to customers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-04 |title=Google and YouTube Will Pay Record $170 Million for Alleged Violations of Children’s Privacy Law |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/09/google-youtube-will-pay-record-170-million-alleged-violations-childrens-privacy-law |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260605113905/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/09/google-youtube-will-pay-record-170-million-alleged-violations-childrens-privacy-law |archive-date=2026-06-05 |access-date=2026-06-05 |website=Federal Trade Commission}}</ref>

===Example incident two (''date'')===
...

==Consumer friendly alternatives==

* [https://www.openstreetmap.org/ OpenStreetMap]

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

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

File:Google Maps logo.svg

2026-06-05T11:18:14Z

SinexTitan: added to the category "Logo"

==Summary==
Google Maps' logo as a SVG, sourced from Wikimedia
==Licensing==
{{From Wikimedia}}
[[Category:Logo]]

File:Google Maps logo.svg

2026-06-05T11:17:55Z

SinexTitan: Google Maps' logo as a SVG, sourced from Wikimedia

== Summary ==
Google Maps' logo as a SVG, sourced from Wikimedia
== Licensing ==
{{From Wikimedia}}

Razer

2026-06-03T20:06:20Z

SinexTitan: better reading

{{Incomplete}}
{{stub}}
{{ProductLineCargo
|Company=Razer
|Logo=Razer.svg
|ReleaseYear=2011
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Hardware
|Website=https://www.razer.com/
|Description=A series of gaming orientated laptops with premium pricing and components.
}}
'''Razer''' is an American headquartered company. It sells a variety of hardware including computer peripherals and laptops.

==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]].

=== Poor quality products: ===

==== Laptop battery swelling: ====
Across the entire Razer Blade product line, many laptops are known to develop swelling batteries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/lsiu |date=2021-11-15 |title=The infamous razer battery swelling/bulging |url=https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/qugoid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260603195139/https://redlib.catsarch.com/comments/qugoid |archive-date=2026-06-03 |access-date=2026-06-03 |website=Redlib}}</ref> Which are highly likely to randomly combust or explode and requires great caution to replace and discard.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What to do with a swollen battery |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Wiki/What_to_do_with_a_swollen_battery |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260603200355/https://www.ifixit.com/Wiki/What_to_do_with_a_swollen_battery |archive-date=2026-06-03 |access-date=2026-06-03 |website=iFixit}}</ref>

==== Laptop adapters catching fire: ====
Here is one article talking about the problem: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Razer-may-want-to-consider-a-recall-for-their-Blade-and-Blade-Pro-AC-adapters.426448.0.html

===Replacement part disorganization and anti-consumerism:===
[https://youtu.be/8w8m1UuLsEQ This was documented by Andy Harding at Salem Techsperts], where Razer refused to sell a replacement battery to him, claiming the laptop was a "Legacy model" (While not being listed or featured as such on their website), and saying to "contact a repair shop". After a comment from the SalemTechsperts YouTube channel got over 8000 likes citing the problem on [https://youtu.be/KhfqhCxqpQ8 a video criticising Razer], they then offered to sell a genuine battery to him, reassuring him they do, in fact, have a battery. A few updates have come since then, whereas later then Razer claimed to not have any replacement batteries, then later claiming again to actually have a battery, prompting dramatic backlash from the community.
[[File:Razer Warranty Policy.png|thumb|Screenshot of Razer's Warranty Policy with the mentioned clauses highlighted]]

===Problematic warranty policy:===
'''Razer'''<nowiki/>'s Warranty Policy contains anti-customer clauses such as:
<blockquote>'''Exclusions and Limitations'''. This Limited Warranty does not cover:

*problems with and/or damage to the Product caused by using accessories, parts, or components not made by Razer;
*damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not officially acting as an employee, representative or sub-contractor of Razer;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Razer Warranty Policy |url=https://www.razer.com/warranty |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260603192004/https://www.razer.com/warranty |archive-date=2026-06-03 |access-date=2026-06-03 |website=Razer}}</ref></blockquote>These clauses limit customer freedom and allows '''Razer''' a vector to be able to reject valid warranty claims.

==Products==
*Razer Pro Click and Pro Click Mini: [[Razer Pro Click and Pro Click Mini]]
*Razer Blade laptops

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Razer

2026-06-03T19:32:38Z

SinexTitan: Razor bs

{{Incomplete}}
{{stub}}
{{ProductLineCargo
|Company=Razer
|Logo=Razer.svg
|ReleaseYear=2011
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Hardware
|Website=https://www.razer.com/
|Description=A series of gaming orientated laptops with premium pricing and components.
}}
'''Razer''' is an American headquartered company. It sells a variety of hardware including computer peripherals and laptops.

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

==Incidents==
Laptop battery swelling: This is a known issue within the entire Razer Blade product line. Here are just a few community sources discussing the issue: https://www.budgetpcupgraderepair.com/razer-bloated-battery-and-how-to-prevent-them/.

Laptop adapters catching fire: Here is one article talking about the problem: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Razer-may-want-to-consider-a-recall-for-their-Blade-and-Blade-Pro-AC-adapters.426448.0.html

===Replacement part disorganization and anti-consumerism:===
[https://youtu.be/8w8m1UuLsEQ This was documented by Andy Harding at Salem Techsperts], where Razer refused to sell a replacement battery to him, claiming the laptop was a "Legacy model" (While not being listed or featured as such on their website), and saying to "contact a repair shop". After a comment from the SalemTechsperts YouTube channel got over 8000 likes citing the problem on [https://youtu.be/KhfqhCxqpQ8 a video criticising Razer], they then offered to sell a genuine battery to him, reassuring him they do, in fact, have a battery. A few updates have come since then, whereas later then Razer claimed to not have any replacement batteries, then later claiming again to actually have a battery, prompting dramatic backlash from the community.
[[File:Razer Warranty Policy.png|thumb|Screenshot of Razer's Warranty Policy with the mentioned clauses highlighted]]

=== Problematic warranty policy: ===
'''Razer'''<nowiki/>'s Warranty Policy contains anti-customer clauses such as:
<blockquote>'''Exclusions and Limitations'''. This Limited Warranty does not cover:

* problems with and/or damage to the Product caused by using accessories, parts, or components not made by Razer;
* damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not officially acting as an employee, representative or sub-contractor of Razer;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Razer Warranty Policy |url=https://www.razer.com/warranty |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260603192004/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.razer.com/warranty |archive-date=2026-06-03 |access-date=2026-06-03 |website=Razer}}</ref></blockquote>These clauses limit customer freedom and allows '''Razer''' a vector to be able to reject valid warranty claims.

==Products==
*Razer Pro Click and Pro Click Mini: [[Razer Pro Click and Pro Click Mini]]
*Razer Blade laptops

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

https://mysupport.razer.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3209/~/battery-issue-on-my-razer-blade-laptop ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260404121130/https://mysupport.razer.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3209/~/battery-issue-on-my-razer-blade-laptop Archived])

https://mysupport.razer.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/404/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNzU2MzM4OTA1L2dlbi8xNzU2MzM4OTA1L3NpZC9mVXZjeDBwTFRtR2Q1VEhaNU5QMEJkdk14OEl6S3hBbjJDZVBFTVBKclZRZmYxaHlCNmkwcFVSM0olN0VjeHN4eFFnTkZhZmt5OSU3RWcwQlBRazhvTjdnOFdTU0VuOUxVVEdQVG5wN1dSZDRtenUwOE0zYk80TFZ0eDl3JTIxJTIx ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260407181501/https://mysupport.razer.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/404/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNzU2MzM4OTA1L2dlbi8xNzU2MzM4OTA1L3NpZC9mVXZjeDBwTFRtR2Q1VEhaNU5QMEJkdk14OEl6S3hBbjJDZVBFTVBKclZRZmYxaHlCNmkwcFVSM0olN0VjeHN4eFFnTkZhZmt5OSU3RWcwQlBRazhvTjdnOFdTU0VuOUxVVEdQVG5wN1dSZDRtenUwOE0zYk80TFZ0eDl3JTIxJTIx Archived])

https://insider.razer.com/razer-support-45/my-razer-blade-14-2022-battery-swollen-70517 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260407181431/https://insider.razer.com/razer-support-45/my-razer-blade-14-2022-battery-swollen-70517 Archived])

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

File:Razer Warranty Policy.png

2026-06-03T19:31:47Z

SinexTitan: added to the category "Files"

==Summary==
Screenshot of Razer's Warranty Policy with the anti-customer clauses highlighted
==Licensing==
{{CC-BY-SA}}
[[Category:Files]]

File:Razer Warranty Policy.png

2026-06-03T19:31:29Z

SinexTitan: Screenshot of Razer's Warranty Policy with the anti-customer clauses highlighted

== Summary ==
Screenshot of Razer's Warranty Policy with the anti-customer clauses highlighted
== Licensing ==
{{CC-BY-SA}}

First-sale doctrine

2026-05-24T14:16:38Z

SinexTitan: lack of citations

{{Incomplete}}

The '''[[wikipedia:First-sale_doctrine|First Sale Doctrine]]''' is a fundamental principle in U.S. copyright law that ensures consumers retain essential rights to resell, lend, or otherwise transfer ownership of legally acquired goods without interference from the original copyright holder. Codified in Section 109(a) of the U.S. Copyright Act, this doctrine has historically protected consumers from overreach by manufacturers or creators seeking to control the downstream use of their products.

In the digital age, however, the First Sale Doctrine is under increasing pressure as corporations leverage new technologies to undermine ownership rights and enforce restrictive post-sale conditions.

===Origins and Purpose===
The First Sale Doctrine originated from the 1908 Supreme Court case '''Bobbs-Merrill Co. v. Straus''' (210 U.S. 339). The case involved a publisher attempting to control the resale price of books, but the Court ruled that copyright holders' rights are exhausted after the first authorized sale of a product. Once sold, the copyright holder could no longer dictate how the product was used, sold, or transferred.

The doctrine serves several purposes:

*'''Promoting ownership autonomy''': Buyers of a product should have the freedom to use, resell, or give away what they legally own.
*'''Preventing monopolistic control''': Copyright holders are prevented from double-dipping or controlling secondary markets.
*'''Fostering commerce and innovation''': By allowing free circulation of goods, the doctrine enables robust secondary markets and encourages creative competition.

===How It Works===
Under the First Sale Doctrine, the copyright holder retains exclusive rights to reproduce or distribute the copyrighted work. However, once a specific copy of the work is sold, the buyer has full ownership of that copy. For example:

*A purchaser of a book can resell, lend, or donate it without requiring the publisher's permission.
*A buyer of a DVD can play it, sell it second-hand, or gift it to someone else.

While the doctrine applies primarily to physical goods, its applicability to digital products and connected devices has become a significant area of debate.

===The Perverted Language of Ownership===
For centuries, words like "purchase" and "buy" have been understood to signify the transfer of ownership. Historically, these terms carried inherent meanings:

*'''"Purchase"''': Denoted a formal transaction resulting in the buyer obtaining full control and ownership over the item.
*'''"Buy"''': Implicitly granted the right to use, modify, sell, or transfer the acquired good without interference from the seller.

In recent years, however, these words have been co-opted by corporations to describe transactions that do not transfer true ownership. Many digital retailers, subscription services, and manufacturers of connected devices continue to use these terms while imposing severe restrictions on what consumers can actually do with the products they "buy."

====Examples of Perversion====

*'''E-Books and Digital Media''': Platforms like [[Amazon]] and [[Apple]] encourage consumers to "buy" e-books, movies, and music. In reality, consumers merely acquire a license to access the content, which can be revoked at any time.
*'''Software Licensing''': Companies like [[Adobe]] and [[Microsoft]] describe transactions as purchases despite being licensed, a fact which is [[Hidden EULA language|hidden in their end-user license agreements]] (EULAs).
*'''Connected Devices''': Fitness equipment, gaming consoles, and even cars increasingly come with restrictions that prevent full ownership, despite consumers paying the full retail price.

====Implications====
This shift in language has profound consequences:

*'''Erosion of Trust''': Consumers believe they are acquiring full ownership based on centuries-old meanings of "purchase," only to discover hidden limitations.
*'''Legal Ambiguity''': The disconnect between traditional and modern definitions creates confusion and undermines long-standing legal principles like the First Sale Doctrine.
*'''Normalization of Restrictions''': By co-opting established terms, corporations normalize anti-consumer practices, making it harder for individuals to recognize and challenge these policies.

===Challenges in the Digital Era===
Modern technology and corporate practices have created new ways to circumvent the First Sale Doctrine, particularly in the realms of digital content and connected devices. Key challenges include:

*'''License Agreements''': Many companies distribute digital goods under "licenses" rather than sales, claiming consumers do not "own" the product but merely have a limited right to use it. This prevents resale or transfer.
*'''Cloud Dependency''': Connected devices often require access to cloud servers to function. Companies retain control by limiting access for second-hand buyers unless additional fees are paid.
*'''[[Digital rights management|Digital Rights Management]] (DRM)''': DRM technologies restrict how consumers can use or transfer digital goods, effectively nullifying ownership rights.
*'''Activation Fees''': Some companies impose post-sale fees to enable functionality for second-hand buyers, eroding the principle that ownership transfers should not involve the original seller.

===Advocacy and Reform===
Consumer advocacy groups and policymakers have called for reforms to protect the First Sale Doctrine in the digital age. Key proposals include:

*'''Clarifying Digital Ownership''': Legislation ensuring that consumers own digital products they purchase, with the right to resell or transfer them.
*'''Restricting Anti-Ownership Practices''': Prohibiting excessive use of DRM, activation fees, and cloud dependency to enforce control over second-hand markets.
*'''Expanding Right-to-Repair''': Ensuring that consumers can repair and fully use their products without interference from manufacturers.

===Importance of the Doctrine===
The First Sale Doctrine is a cornerstone of consumer rights, enabling ownership and autonomy while fostering vibrant secondary markets. Without it, companies could monopolize the lifecycle of their products, forcing consumers into continuous payments or preventing them from exercising basic ownership rights.

As technology evolves, the doctrine must adapt to ensure it remains a meaningful protection for consumers in an increasingly connected world.

===Conclusion===
The First Sale Doctrine has long been a safeguard for consumer ownership and autonomy, but is being tested and eroded by modern technologies and corporate practices. Ensuring its survival in the digital era is crucial for maintaining fairness, freedom, and competition in consumer markets.

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Copyright]]

Video game preservation

2026-05-24T13:49:26Z

SinexTitan: /* Publishing source code */ ツ

'''Video game preservation''', which falls in the broader category of media preservation, is the act of ensuring the accessibility and playability of older video games for the future. There are many reasons why this practice is necessary.

==The need for active game preservation==

===Live-service killing===
[[Games as a service|Live-service games]] are very difficult to preserve due to their reliance on the parent company's will to keep the service online. Rarely companies adapt the games to be completely playable offline with all the available features that used to exist when the game was a live-service. Despite that, dedicated communities have tried to keep these games alive with their own time, money, resources and dedication out of their own will, for the love of preserving the experiences that they love.

[https://homecoming.wiki/wiki/Main_Page City of Heroes - Homecoming], [https://www.cplegacy.com/ Club Penguin Legacy], [https://www.returnofreckoning.com/ Warhammer Online - Return of Reckoning], [https://github.com/NexusForever/NexusForever WildStar Nexus Forever], [https://legends.ml/ MapleStory MapleLegends] and many more are examples of community-created private servers in order to keep the games playable.

===Death of a technology===
Since [[Adobe]] announced the end of life date of [[Adobe Flash Player]] on 31 December 2020, many people have put effort in preserving flash video games by porting them to HTML5 or with the creation of Flash emulators like [https://ruffle.rs/ Ruffle], which allows to run flash games and content on web browsers. Additionally, [https://flashpointarchive.org/ Flashpoint Archive] is a community project dedicated to preserve content that runs on Flash and it comes with downloadable applications that allow to download and run Flash content on the device.

===Few numbers of physical copies===
Some video games only exist in physical copies and these copies are in a limited quantity. The amount of physical playable copies could be reduced because of the possibility that the media can deteriorate over time. Digitalization makes easier to copy, adapt and create backups of the original video game, making it more available for the public and the generations to come. Preservation of these physical copies are often handled by museums and non-profit organizations that try to ensure the longevity of the media in its original form.

===Cultural heritage===
Like cinema, literature, music, and television, video games are an important part of contemporary cultural heritage, they reflect the artistic, technological, political, and social conditions of the periods in which they were created. Preserving them is not only about maintaining entertainment software, but also about protecting historical records of digital culture.

Video games document the evolution of the media through storytelling and art, computer graphics and software engineering, online communities and social interactions, music and sound design, game design philosophies and player behavior and the economic and labor of the technologies and the industry.

Just like other media, some games shaped global culture such as Super Mario Bros, [[World of Warcraft]], [[Minecraft]], [[Fortnite]], Pokémon and many more, influencing generations of players and their growth, along with developers, artists and communities.

==Preservation methods==

===Publishing source code===
On 18 February 2025, [[Valve]] released an update to the {{Wplink|Source_(game_engine)|Source}} SDK, which added all the {{Wplink|Team Fortress 2}} client and server game code. With the source code content creators are allowed to build new games based off TF2.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Feb 2025 |title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218201538/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |archive-date=18 Feb 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=Team Fortress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders |url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |archive-date=10 Mar 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=BitSkins}}</ref>

In February 2025, [[Electronic Arts]] (EA) made an announcement that the source code of older titles from the {{Wplink|Command & Conquer}} video game franchise were recovered, and made public under the GPLv3 license.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Vessella |first=Jim |date=27 Feb 2025 |title=C&C Steam Workshop Support & Source Code |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/commandandconquer/comments/1izmpmb/cc_steam_workshop_support_source_code/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250626052744/https://old.reddit.com/r/commandandconquer/comments/1izmpmb/cc_steam_workshop_support_source_code/ |archive-date=26 Jun 2025 |access-date=9 Mar 2025 |via=Reddit}}</ref> To help the community further, the Steam Workshop has also been integrated into these titles to add additional community content.<ref name=":0" />

[[Id Software]] has published<ref>{{Cite web |title=id Software GitHub |url=https://github.com/id-Software |url-status=live |website=GitHub}}</ref> the source code of various games and tools on [[GitHub]]. The repositories are for DOOM, DOOM Classic for iOS (two versions), Doom 3 BFG Edition, Quake, Quake 2, Quake 2 Tools, Quake III Arena, Return to Castle Wolfenstein (Single Player and Multiplayer), Wolfenstein 3D for iOS, WOLF3D Browser Version and Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory.

===Museums and archives===
Museums such as [https://www.museumofplay.org/collections/icheg/ The Strong National Museum of Play] and [https://gamehistory.org/ Video Game History Foundation] collect consoles, cartridges, design documents and promotional materials to document the evolution of the gaming industry. On the other hand, archive website and digital libraries like [https://archive.org/details/classicpcgames Internet Archive] and [https://www.gog.com/en/gog-preservation-program GOG Preservation Program] work to preserve games, magazines and software that might otherwise disappear due to hardware failure, discontinued support or physical media being lost.

==Further reading==
*[[Stop Killing Games]]
*[[Storefront shutdown]]
*[[GOG.com]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://gamehistory.org/ Video Game History Foundation] non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and teaching the history of video games.
*[https://www.gamepres.org/en/ Game Preservation Society] non-profit archive organization that collect, preserve, research, digitize and share materials of Japan’s video game culture.
*[https://efgamp.eu/ European Federation of Game Archives Museums and Preservation Projects] preservation of digital games and other interactive experiences with focus on ensuring that the overall European legal framework is compatible with the needs of digital preservation.
*[https://vvga.org/ Vintage Video Game Association] non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and licensing of vintage video games.
*[https://hitsave.org/ Hit Save!] non-profit dedicated to the preservation of video games, their history, and related physical and digital materials.
*[https://vhs.thenvm.org/ Videogame Heritage Society] Subject Specialist Network (SSN) for digital game preservation.
*[https://archive.org/details/classicpcgames Internet Archive] large-scale digital archive containing playable retro games and software collections.
*[https://www.museumofplay.org/collections/icheg/ The Strong National Museum of Play] highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of play.
*[https://www.mamedev.org/ MAME] multi-purpose emulation framework which purpose is to preserve decades of software history.
*[https://flashpointarchive.org/ Flashpoint Archive] a community effort to preserve games and animations from the web.
*[https://www.gog.com/en/gog-preservation-program GOG Preservation Program] ensures classic games remain playable on modern systems, even after their developers stopped supporting them.

[[Category:Common terms]]

Rockstar Games

2026-05-24T13:43:48Z

SinexTitan: RDR

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American video game publisher known for Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption.
|Founded=1998
|Industry=Video Games
|Logo=Rockstar Games Logo.svg
|ParentCompany=Take-Two Interactive
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://www.rockstargames.com/
}}

'''{{Wplink|Rockstar_Games|Rockstar Games, Inc.}}''' is an American video game publisher based in New York City. It is known for action-adventure game franchises such as ''Grand Theft Auto'' and ''Red Dead Redemption.'' It is owned by [[Take Two]].

==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]].

===Rockstar - GTA The Definitive Trilogy===
{{Incomplete section}}

===GTA IV content removal===
The licensing for some songs in ''GTA IV'' expired, with updates to the game removing content post-purchase.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Music Updates in Grand Theft Auto IV, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony |url=https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/360001005308/Music-Updates-in-Grand-Theft-Auto-IV-The-Lost-and-Damned-and-The-Ballad-of-Gay-Tony |website=Rockstar Games |date=11 Apr 2018 |access-date=2 Apr 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415011048/https://consumerrights.wiki/w/File:Rockstar_Games_Music_updates_in_GTA_IV.png |archive-date=15 Apr 2026}}</ref> A list of removed songs can be found on [[Reddit]]'s sub-forum r/Games (see adjacent reference).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=TransAmConnor |title=The update for GTA 4 removes songs from the ingame radio stations. Here is the list of songs removed |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/8f4crm/the_update_for_gta_4_removes_songs_from_the/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=26 Apr 2018 |access-date=14 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610155323/https://old.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/8f4crm/the_update_for_gta_4_removes_songs_from_the/ |archive-date=10 Jun 2023}}</ref> Players who purchased a physical disk copy can enjoy the full soundtrack but cannot update without losing content.

===GTA V move to kernel-level anti-cheat on PC after purchase===
{{Main|GTA 5 moves to kernel-level anti-cheat on PC after purchase}}

On 17 September 2024 (eleven years after release), Rockstar Games implemented a controversial update that included a more invasive and dangerous kernel-mode anti-cheat made by BattlEye. This update retroactively restricted GTA Online usage to the Windows operating system, despite previously being fully functional on other operating systems such as [[SteamOS]] (and other [[wikipedia:Linux_distribution|Linux distros]]). Despite the BattlEye anti-cheat being Linux-compatible with minimal effort, the company still chose to not support the operating system, thus leaving buyers without the product they paid for.

Due to the BattlEye anti-cheat being a requirement to run GTA V, if a customer decides not to install it they won't be able to sign in to the Rockstar Launcher even if they wish to play single player. There are workarounds for this, such as using offline mode on [[Steam]], but the game requires license activation by logging in to Rockstar Launcher at least once upon installation. About every week the license will need to be reactivated to continue playing the single player mode.{{Citation needed|date=14 Apr 2026}}

===Rockstar prevents borrowing games on Steam===
While many publishers permit Steam Family Sharing, a feature that allows users to share their game libraries with other accounts, Rockstar does not allow it.<ref>{{Cite web |author=laffiie |title=Family Sharing "Buy" instead of "Play" with GTA V. |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/ee7ig7/family_sharing_buy_instead_of_play_with_gta_v/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=22 Dec 2019 |access-date=14 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607222201/https://old.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/ee7ig7/family_sharing_buy_instead_of_play_with_gta_v/ |archive-date=7 Jun 2023}}</ref>

===Rockstar adds arbitration agreement post-purchase (''2025'')===
As of 28 March 2025, Rockstar Games Launcher is now forcing customers to accept the current terms and conditions which were updated 28 February 2025. This includes an arbitration agreement that may only be opted out of through a letter delivered via official mail courier services.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author= |title=Rockstar Legal |url=https://www.rockstargames.com/legal |website=Rockstar Games |date=28 Feb 2025 |access-date=3 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211134609/https://www.rockstargames.com/legal |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> This affects owners of any games through the Rockstar Games Launcher as well as Steam users who own games that require its use, completely blocking them from using the products they paid for until they agree.

===Rockstar automatically linking games to lost accounts when purchased from Steam===
Games purchased through steam are automatically/on launch locked to linked Rockstar Games account.{{CitationNeeded}} Users who in the past had used a Rockstar Games account and linked it to steam, but who had lost access to their Rockstar-linked emails in the time between then and the new purchase had lost access to the account then found that the game had become locked and unusable, as the game was tied to their inaccessible Rockstar Games account.

Some users are reporting success after a multitude of attempts to reach out to support in having their accounts un-linked, but others are reporting back that they are not having any luck with finding a resolution.{{CitationNeeded}}

===Rockstar requiring proof of purchase for Android games===
After introducing GTA+,<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=GTA+ Join |url=https://www.rockstargames.com/gta-plus |website=Rockstar Games |date= |access-date=14 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260316195158/https://www.rockstargames.com/gta-plus/join |archive-date=16 Mar 2026}}</ref> some older mobile GTA titles were made available through the subscription.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |author= |title=Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Chinatown Wars Added to Games Included With GTA+ |url=https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/89791k5o447a95/grand-theft-auto-liberty-city-stories-and-chinatown-wars-added-to-game |website=Rockstar Games |date=19 Oct 2023 |access-date=14 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019230214/https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/89791k5o447a95/grand-theft-auto-liberty-city-stories-and-chinatown-wars-added-to-game |archive-date=19 Oct 2023}}</ref> After each (re-)installation, [[Android]] users are required to send proof of purchase from the [[Google Play Store]] for manual approval.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=How do I restore a mobile purchase for a Rockstar Games title? |url=https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/YthtxkGTJY0uv3MgNJAJv/how-do-i-restore-a-mobile-purchase-for-a-rockstar-games-title |website=Rockstar Games |date=6 May 2024 |access-date=14 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415001607/https://consumerrights.wiki/w/File:Rockstar_Games_support_page_for_restoring_mobile_purchase.png |archive-date=15 Apr 2026}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |author= |title=Already bought Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories Error |url=https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/pFKhWjF2elrbh0fmxUaTS/already-bought-grand-theft-auto-liberty-city-stories-error |website=Rockstar Games |date=13 Dec 2024 |access-date=14 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415002743/https://consumerrights.wiki/w/File:Rockstar_Games_Already_bought_Grand_Theft_Auto_Liberty_City_Stories_error.png |archive-date=15 Apr 2026}}</ref>
<gallery>
Rockstar Games GTA Liberty City Stories purchase page.png|Prompt to buy the game.
File:Rockstar Games mobile purchase restoration form.png|alt=Purchase restoration form|Purchase restoration form.
File:Rockstar Games support page for restoring mobile purchase.png|Screenshot of Rockstar Games support page regarding restoration of previous mobile purchase.
File:Rockstar Games Already bought Grand Theft Auto Liberty City Stories error.png|Screenshot of support page for "Already bought Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories?" error.
</gallery>

==Products==
===Grand Theft Auto===
*Grand Theft Auto London 1969 (1999)
*Grand Theft Auto London 1961 (1999)
*Grand Theft Auto II (1999)
*Grand Theft Auto III (2001)
*Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)
*Grand Theft Auto Advance (2004)
*Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2005)
*Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005)
*Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006)
*Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)
*Grand Theft Auto V (2013)
*Grand Theft Auto VI (upcoming, planned for 2026)

===L.A. Noire===
*L.A. Noire (2011)

=== Red Dead Redemption ===

* Red Dead Redemption (2010)
* Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)

==See also==
*[[Forced arbitration]]
*[[Electronic Arts]]
*[[Ubisoft]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Take-Two Interactive]]
[[Category:Companies using forced arbitration clauses]]

Video game preservation

2026-05-19T16:29:24Z

SinexTitan: neat

{{Stub}}

'''Video game preservation''', which falls in the broader category of media preservation, is the act of ensuring the accessibility and playability of older video games for the future. There are many reasons why this practice is necessary.

== Reasonings ==

===Live-service killing===
[[Games as a service|Live-service games]] are very difficult to preserve due to their reliance on the parent company's will to keep the service online. However, in some cases communities create private servers in order to make the game completely playable.

Rarely some companies adapt the game to be completely playable offline with all the available features that used to exist when the game was a live-service.

===Death of a technology===
For example, when Flash stopped being supported in browsers, many people made effort in preserving flash video games by porting them to html5. Flash emulators like [https://ruffle.rs/ Ruffle] allow to run flash games and content on web browsers. [https://flashpointarchive.org/ Flashpoint Archive] is a community project dedicated to preserve content that runs on Flash. It counts with downloadable applications that allow to download and run Flash content from the device.

===Few numbers of physical copies===
Some video games only exist in physical copies and these copies are in a limited quantity. Also the amount of playable copies could be reduced because of the possibility that copies could deteriorate over time. Digitalization makes easier to copy, adapt and create backups of the original video game, making it more available to public as well.

== Efforts ==

=== Publishing source code ===
On 18 February 2025, Valve released an update to the {{Wplink|Source_(game_engine)|Source}} SDK, which added all the {{Wplink|Team Fortress 2}} client and server game code. With the source code content creators are allowed to build new games based off TF2.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Feb 2025 |title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218201538/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |archive-date=18 Feb 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=Team Fortress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders |url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |archive-date=10 Mar 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=BitSkins}}</ref>

In February 2025, [[Electronic Arts]] (EA) made an announcement that the source code of older titles from the {{Wplink|Command & Conquer}} video game franchise were recovered, and made public under the GPLv3 license.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Vessella |first=Jim |date=27 Feb 2025 |title=C&C Steam Workshop Support & Source Code |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/commandandconquer/comments/1izmpmb/cc_steam_workshop_support_source_code/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250626052744/https://old.reddit.com/r/commandandconquer/comments/1izmpmb/cc_steam_workshop_support_source_code/ |archive-date=26 Jun 2025 |access-date=9 Mar 2025 |via=Reddit}}</ref> To help the community further, the Steam Workshop has also been integrated into these titles to add additional community content.<ref name=":0" />

==Further reading==
*[[Stop Killing Games]]
*[[Storefront shutdown]]
*[[GOG.com]]
==References==
[[Category:Common terms]]

Valve

2026-05-19T16:25:44Z

SinexTitan: wplink

{{Cleanup|Issue 1=Citations need better formatting and have archive URLs. See [[Template:Cite web]] for further assistance.}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American video game company known for distribution platform Steam and game series like Half Life, Portal, Team Fortress, and Counter Strike.
|Founded=1996
|Industry=Video game retail, Video game development, Video game hardware
|Logo=Valve_Corporation_Logo.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://valvesoftware.com/
}}

'''{{Wplink|Valve Corporation}}''' (also known as '''Valve Software''') is a software distribution company, most known for being the owner of the distribution service [[Steam]]. Valve additionally develops tools frequently used by various professional and amateur creators, such as Source Filmmaker and the Source Engines, as well as manufacturing hardware items such as the {{Wplink|Steam Deck}}. It was founded in 1996 by {{Wplink|Gabe Newell}} and Mike Harrington.

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

===Business model===
Valve's primary source of revenue is the sale of both its own and third party games on the Steam platform.
Valve also manufactures and sells gaming hardware systems. These products include: the Steam Deck, Steam Machine and Steam Frame which all run [[SteamOS]], Valve's Linux-based operating system, out of the box.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam Hardware |url=https://store.steampowered.com/sale/hardware |url-status=live |website=[[Steam]]}}</ref>

==Positives==

===Publishing TF2 source code (2025.02.18)===
On 18 February 2025, Valve released an update to the {{Wplink|Source_(game_engine)|Source}} SDK, which added all the {{Wplink|Team Fortress 2}} client and server game code. With the source code content creators are allowed to build new games based off TF2.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Feb 2025 |title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218201538/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |archive-date=18 Feb 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=Team Fortress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders |url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |archive-date=10 Mar 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=BitSkins}}</ref>

===Contributions to open-source (''2018—'')===
Valve has made several noteworthy open-source contributions to advance software [[interoperability]], which have improved gaming on Linux and macOS, and running {{Wplink|x86}} software on {{Wplink|ARM}} processors.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" />

====Wine compatibility layer====
On 21 August 2018, Valve released the first version of the {{Wplink|Proton (software)|Proton}} compatibility layer,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Dawe |first=Liam |date=2018-08-21 |title=Valve officially confirm a new version of 'Steam Play' which includes a modified version of Wine |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2018/08/valve-officially-confirm-a-new-version-of-steam-play-which-includes-a-modified-version-of-wine/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=GamingOnLinux}}</ref> which was developed in partnership with {{Wplink|CodeWeavers}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schmid |first=Jana |date=2022-02-25 |title=CODEWEAVERS’ PROTON SOFTWARE SAUCE POWERS STEAM DECK |url=https://www.codeweavers.com/about/news/press/20220225 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=CodeWeavers}}</ref> Proton is the fork of the {{Wplink|Wine (software)|Wine}}<ref name=":4" /> compatibility layer that allows [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] programs to run on {{Wplink|POSIX}}-compliant {{Wplink|operating systems}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Run Windows applications on Linux, BSD, Solaris and macOS |url=https://www.winehq.org/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=WineHQ}}</ref> Proton's primary focus is to improve performance and compatibility of Windows games running on {{Wplink|Linux}} operating systems.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GitHub - ValveSoftware/Proton: Compatibility tool for Steam Play based on Wine and additional components |url=https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Github}}</ref> It works by translating Windows specific {{Wplink|DirectX}} API calls to {{Wplink|Vulkan}}.{{Citation needed}}

As an effect of developing Proton, Valve and CodeWeavers have upstreamed a lot of upgrades and fixes to Wine.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Larabel |first=Michael |date=2019-03-27 |title=A Lot Of Valve's Proton Work Is Landing Back In Upstream Wine |url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/Proton-Work-Back-In-Wine-4.2 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Phoronix}}</ref>

====FEX emulation layer====
On 12 November 2025, Valve announced the Steam Frame, an ARM based {{Wplink|VR headset}} which will be running {{Wplink|SteamOS}}.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Steve |last2=Lathan |first2=Patrick |last3=Makhnovets |first3=Vitalii |last4=Phetdara |first4=Tim |last5=Thang |first5=Jimmy |date=2025-11-14 |title=Valve Steam Machine, Desktop SteamOS, Steam Frame VR, & Controller {{!}} ft. Engineering Discussion |url=https://gamersnexus.net/news-pre-built-pc/valve-steam-machine-desktop-steamos-steam-frame-vr-controller-ft-engineering |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Gamers Nexus}}</ref> In order to to be compatible with most Windows x86 games, Valve will be using the FEX-Emu emulation layer alongside Proton.<ref name=":5" /> In an anniversary blog post, the FEX lead dev stated: <blockquote>I want to thank the people from Valve for being here from the start and allowing me to kickstart this project. They trusted me with the responsibility of designing and frameworking the project in a way that it can work long-term; not only for their use cases but also keeping it an open project that anyone can adapt for their own use cases.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Houdek |first=Ryan |date=2025-11-28 |title=FEX seven year anniversary! |url=https://fex-emu.com/FEXiversary/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=FEX-Emu}}</ref></blockquote>FEX works by emulating x86 specific instructions to ARM64.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FEX-Emu – A fast linux usermode x86 and x86-64 emulator |url=https://fex-emu.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=FEX-Emu}}</ref>

===Repairable hardware===
====Steam Deck====
Following the release of the Steam Deck in 2022, Gamers Nexus and iFixit released teardown videos praising the ease of dissassembly of the device,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Steve |last2=Lathan |first2=Patrick |last3=Stone |first3=Patrick |last4=Coleman |first4=Andrew |last5=Gallick |first5=Keegan |date=2022-02-08 |title=Steam Deck Tear-Down: Build Quality, Disassembly, & VRM Analysis |url=https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=dlsJB3narnk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=dlsJB3narnk |archive-date=2026-04-29 |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=Invidious}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Suovanen |first=Jeff |date=2022-02-15 |title=Steam Deck Teardown: Everything Valve Said Not to Do! |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/57101/steam-deck-teardown |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=iFixit}}</ref> the latter giving it a 7/10 on their repairability score.<ref name=":8" />

In collaboration with iFixit, Valve makes many of the Deck's parts available on iFixit for reasonable prices with first party repair guides.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam Deck LCD Repair Help |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Steam_Deck |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=iFixit}}</ref>

Except for the first party repair guides, the same praise<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Steve |last2=Clayton |first2=Jeremy |last3=Gaglione |first3=Mike |last4=Makhnovets |first4=Vitalii |date=2023-11-11 |title=They Changed Everything: Valve Steam Deck OLED vs. LCD Tear-Down |url=https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=9jhRh11bTRA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=9jhRh11bTRA |archive-date=2026-04-29 |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=Invidious}}</ref> alongside the parts availability for reasonable prices on iFixit is also applicable to the updated OLED model.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam Deck OLED Repair Help: Learn How to Fix It Yourself. |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Steam_Deck_OLED |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=iFixit}}</ref>

====Steam Controller (2nd Gen)====
Following the release of the Steam Controller (2nd Gen) in 2026, Gamers Nexus released a teardown video praising the ease of dissassemble of the device.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Steve |last2=Makhnovets |first2=Vitalii |last3=Williams |first3=Tannen |date=2026-04-28 |title=Impressive Repairability: Valve Steam Controller Tear-Down & Disassembly |url=https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=hVRfie61QyE |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=Invidious}}</ref>

In collaboration with iFixit, Valve makes many of the Controller's parts available on iFixit for reasonable prices with first party repair guides.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam Controller (2nd Generation) Repair Help |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Steam_Controller_%282nd_Generation%29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519141858/https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Steam_Controller_%282nd_Generation%29 |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=iFixit}}</ref>

==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]].

===PC version of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive replaced by Counter-Strike 2 (''2023'')===
Counter-Strike 2, previously available as a 'Limited Test' since March 22nd 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Ali |date=2023-03-22 |title=Here's how to access the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test {{!}} GamesRadar+ |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/counter-strike-2-limited-test/ |url-status=live |website=GamesRadar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214114651/https://www.gamesradar.com/counter-strike-2-limited-test/ |archive-date=14 Dec 2025}}</ref>, released on September 27th 2023, replacing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on [[Steam]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=2023-09-27 |title=After 11 years of CS:GO, Counter-Strike 2 has officially replaced the biggest game on Steam {{!}} GamesRadar+ |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/after-11-years-of-csgo-counter-strike-2-has-officially-replaced-the-biggest-game-on-steam/ |url-status=live |website=GamesRadar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223173642/https://www.gamesradar.com/after-11-years-of-csgo-counter-strike-2-has-officially-replaced-the-biggest-game-on-steam/ |archive-date=23 Dec 2025}}</ref>. This removed access to Global Offensive for those who had purchased it, every mainline PC Counter-Strike game before Global Offensive (Counter-Strike<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/10/CounterStrike/ |url-status=live |website=Steam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251230014611/https://store.steampowered.com/app/10/CounterStrike/ |archive-date=30 Dec 2025}}</ref>, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike: Condition Zero on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/80/CounterStrike_Condition_Zero/ |url-status=live |website=Steam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251228102653/https://store.steampowered.com/app/80/CounterStrike_Condition_Zero/ |archive-date=28 Dec 2025}}</ref> and Counter-Strike: Source<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike: Source on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/240/CounterStrike_Source/ |url-status=live |website=Steam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251217184118/https://store.steampowered.com/app/240/CounterStrike_Source/ |archive-date=17 Dec 2025}}</ref>) can still be purchased and played on [[Steam]] through a separate library entry so this was an unprecedented move from Valve.

A legacy version of Global Offensive called 'CS:GO Legacy' was released on October 10th 2023<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-10 |title=Legacy CS:GO Version |url=https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/73EF-08A3-0935-6369 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010111016/https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/73EF-08A3-0935-6369 |archive-date=2023-10-10}}</ref> after backlash from the Counter-Strike community towards the Counter-Strike 2 launch and Global Offensive replacement. This version can only be accessed while Counter-Strike 2 is installed<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilde |first=Tyler |date=2023-10-13 |title=How to play CS:GO now that Counter-Strike 2 is out {{!}} PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/you-can-still-play-csgo-at-least-if-you-consider-custom-servers-where-you-fight-final-fantasy-summons-playing-csgo/ |url-status=live |website=PCGamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251211035203/https://www.pcgamer.com/you-can-still-play-csgo-at-least-if-you-consider-custom-servers-where-you-fight-final-fantasy-summons-playing-csgo/ |archive-date=11 Dec 2025}}</ref>. Valve committed to supporting this version of the game until January 1st 2024<ref name=":0" /> but in that support window ignored bug reports from the community such as Counter-Strike 2 servers appearing in the community server browser with no way to distinguish these servers from Global Offensive servers unless the server specified what game it was targeting in it's name. CS:GO Legacy received only one update<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-13 |title=Counter-Strike 2 History · Change #20663547 · SteamDB |url=https://steamdb.info/app/730/history/?changeid=20663547 |url-status=live |website=SteamDB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251020235311/https://steamdb.info/app/730/history/?changeid=20663547 |archive-date=20 Oct 2025}}</ref> during its support window and this update didn't contain any public update notes so it is unclear what this may have fixed.

After the support window for CS:GO Legacy ended, numerous problems started occurring with the game. Global Offensive servers stopped appearing in the CS:GO Legacy community server browser<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-08 |title=CS:GO Legacy servers being rejected from Steam / CS:GO Legacy server browser listings · Issue #4047 · ValveSoftware/csgo-osx-linux |url=https://github.com/ValveSoftware/csgo-osx-linux/issues/4047 |url-status=live |website=GitHub |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514162130/https://github.com/ValveSoftware/csgo-osx-linux/issues/4047 |archive-date=14 May 2025}}</ref> which meant that only external third party server browsers could be used to find Global Offensive servers and these servers have to be added manually unlike [[Steam]]'s server browser which finds and queries new servers automatically. As a point of comparison, the mainline PC Counter-Strike games released before Global Offensive (Counter-Strike, Condition Zero and Source) still have a functional server browser without needing third party intervention.

It also became impossible to use multiple weapons (M4A1-S, USP-S, CZ75-Auto, MP5-SD, R8 Revolver) in regular gameplay on vanilla servers without plugins as the loadout system used to switch between weapons and equip weapon skins was discontinued on CS:GO Legacy.<ref>[[File:CS-GO Legacy Inventory Message.jpg|thumb|Pop-up message after attempting to open the Inventory on the main menu of CS:GO Legacy, screenshot taken 23rd October 2025.]]
</ref> There was an unofficial method of re-enabling the loadout system so these weapons could be equipped and used in game but this method was patched in the May 8th 2025 Counter-Strike 2 update.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Csgo_Legacy_2023 – BaseQ WiQi |url=https://wiki.baseq.fr/Installation-Guides/Source/Csgo_Legacy_2023?revision=7fa46e#enabling-back-your-inventory |url-status=live |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=BaseQ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105023533/https://wiki.baseq.fr/Installation-Guides/Source/Csgo_Legacy_2023?revision=7fa46e#enabling-back-your-inventory |archive-date=5 Jan 2026}}</ref> Although patched for its intended purpose, some CS:GO Legacy community servers still require this method for players to join their servers.<ref name=":3" />

===Steam users do not own their games (''2024'')===
In October 2024, Valve added a note to Steam's payment checkout screen which states: <blockquote>A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam. For full terms and conditions, please see the Steam Subscriber Agreement.</blockquote> This is attributed to a law passed in California which requires storefronts to clearly state whether a consumer is purchasing a license for digital media.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Shakir |first=Umar |date=11 Oct 2024 |title=Steam now says the ‘game’ you’re buying is really just a license |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/11/24267864/steam-buy-purchase-license-digital-storefront |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214142023/https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/11/24267864/steam-buy-purchase-license-digital-storefront |archive-date=14 Dec 2025}}</ref>

The licenses are tied to the Steam account, so if the consumer loses access to the account they will lose all the licenses with it.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=11 Oct 2024 |title=Steam's new disclaimer reminds everyone that you don't actually own your games, GOG moves in for the killshot: Its offline installers 'cannot be taken away from you' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/steams-new-disclaimer-reminds-everyone-that-you-dont-actually-own-your-games-gog-moves-in-for-the-killshot-its-offline-installers-cannot-be-taken-away-from-you/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=PC Gamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251117104943/https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/steams-new-disclaimer-reminds-everyone-that-you-dont-actually-own-your-games-gog-moves-in-for-the-killshot-its-offline-installers-cannot-be-taken-away-from-you/ |archive-date=17 Nov 2025}}</ref> Steam forbids consumers from transferring their licenses to other accounts, even if the accounts are owned by the same person that purchased the license. Steam forbids consumers from allowing other people to use their Steam account, even if passed down via a will.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Litchfield |first=Ted |date=2024-05-26 |title=You can't take it with you, but you can't leave it for someone else either: Valve says you aren't allowed to bequeath a Steam account in a will |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/you-cant-take-it-with-you-but-you-cant-leave-it-behind-either-valve-says-you-arent-allowed-to-bequeath-a-steam-account-in-a-will/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=PC Gamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114134401/https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/you-cant-take-it-with-you-but-you-cant-leave-it-behind-either-valve-says-you-arent-allowed-to-bequeath-a-steam-account-in-a-will/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>

This is in contrast to Steam's main competitor [https://www.gog.com/en/ GOG], which states on its payment checkout screen: <blockquote>A purchase of a digital product on GOG grants you its Offline Installers, which cannot be taken away from you.<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>Some games downloaded through Steam can be played without the Steam client running.<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of DRM-free games |url=https://steam.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_DRM-free_games |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251121055931/https://steam.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_DRM-free_games |archive-date=21 Nov 2025 |access-date=2026-01-22 |website=Fandom}}</ref>

==Products==
===Hardware===
*HTC VIVE (1st Gen)
*Steam Controller (1st Gen)
*Steam Controller (2nd Gen)
*Steam Deck
*Steam Deck OLED
*Steam Machine (1st Gen)
*Steam Machine (1st Gen)
*Steam Frame
*Valve Index

===Software===
*SteamOS 1.0
*SteamOS 2.0
*SteamOS 3.0

===Games===
*Counter Strike
*Counter Strike Global Offensive
*Counter Strike: Source
*Counter Strike 2
*Half Life: Alyx
*Half Life
*Half Life 2
*<s>Half Life 3</s>
*Portal
*Portal 2

==Lawsuits==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Dispute Title
!Year started and ended
(if concluded)
!Background Information
!Aftermath
!Related Articles
|-
|''ACCC v. Valve Corporation''<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 Mar 2016 |title=Federal Court finds Valve made misleading representations about consumer guarantees |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/federal-court-finds-valve-made-misleading-representations-about-consumer-guarantees |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=ACCC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251013070949/https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/federal-court-finds-valve-made-misleading-representations-about-consumer-guarantees |archive-date=13 Oct 2025}}</ref>
|2014–2016
|During this lawsuit, Valve was found by the Australian Federal Court to have refused to offer refunds for faulty or broken products.
|Users now have the ability to easily refund games they purchased, so long as they follow the refund policy.
|
|-
|''UFC Que Choisir v. Valve Corporation''<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Dec 2024 |title=Tough Times Ahead for Digital Video Game Resellers: French Supreme Court Ruling in UFC Que Choisir v. Valve |url=https://www.foxmandal.in/tough-times-ahead-for-digital-video-game-resellers-french-supreme-court-ruling-in-ufc-que-choisir-v-valve/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=Fox Mandal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204122942/https://www.foxmandal.in/tough-times-ahead-for-digital-video-game-resellers-french-supreme-court-ruling-in-ufc-que-choisir-v-valve/ |archive-date=4 Dec 2024}}</ref>
|2015–2019
(still disputed)
|UFC Que Choisir sued Valve on the grounds that users deserved to resell their digital licenses.
|Users in France had the right to resell their digital Steam library, overturned in October 2024.
|
|-
|''McLeod v. Valve Corp.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-04 |title=McLeod v. Valve Corp. |url=https://casetext.com/case/mcleod-v-valve-corp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126102613/https://casetext.com/case/mcleod-v-valve-corp |archive-date=2025-01-26 |access-date=2026-01-22 |website=Casetext}}</ref>
|2016
|MacLeod started the first antitrust case against Valve Corp. over the sale of their games.
|Absorbed into another legal dispute; continues to be dismissed within Seattle courts.
|
|-
|''Wolfire Games v. Valve Corp.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-06 |title=Wolfire Games LLC v. Valve Corp. |url=https://casetext.com/case/wolfire-games-llc-v-valve-corp-7 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250202174447/https://casetext.com/case/wolfire-games-llc-v-valve-corp-7 |archive-date=2025-02-02 |access-date=2026-01-22 |website=Casetext}}</ref>
|2021–2022
|The first notable antitrust case against Valve's unfair market manipulation of their games.
|Absorbed into another dispute/now a {{Wplink|class action}} lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=28 Nov 2024 |title=The antitrust lawsuit against Steam is now a class action, and that could have big repercussions for Valve |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/the-antitrust-lawsuit-against-steam-is-now-a-class-action-and-that-could-have-big-repercussions-for-valve/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=PC Gamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251118020850/https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/the-antitrust-lawsuit-against-steam-is-now-a-class-action-and-that-could-have-big-repercussions-for-valve/ |archive-date=18 Nov 2025}}</ref>
|
|-
|''Sean Colvin'' (and various others) ''v. Valve Corporation, CD Projekt S.A., CD Projekt, Inc., Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., Ubisoft, Inc., Ubisoft L.A., Inc., kChamp Games, Inc., Rust, LLC, and Devolver Digital, Inc.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Eriq |date=28 Jan 2021 |title=Popular Gaming Platform Accused of Abusing Market Power Through Contracts |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/popular-gaming-platform-accused-of-abusing-market-power-through-contracts-4124057/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114174554/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/popular-gaming-platform-accused-of-abusing-market-power-through-contracts-4124057/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>
|2021 - Unfinished
|Five individuals in California sued Valve (among various other publishers) over participating in anti-competitive behavior with the Steam platform, most notably over the sale of games for lesser prices on other platforms.
|Not concluded because of indefinite postponement by Valve.
|
|-
|''Bucher Law PLCC v. Valve Corp.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bucher Law Steam Lawsuit |url=https://lawgud.com/lawsuit/bucher-law-steam-lawsuit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708174529/https://lawgud.com/lawsuit/bucher-law-steam-lawsuit/ |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=LawGud}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-23 |title=Valve antitrust litigation |url=https://www.bucherlawfirm.com/_files/ugd/38f6ef_69ae2fee5c5548538d526669d99be533.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708174522/https://www.bucherlawfirm.com/_files/ugd/38f6ef_69ae2fee5c5548538d526669d99be533.pdf |archive-date=2025-07-08 |access-date=2026-01-22 |website=Bucher Law Firm}}</ref>
|C.A. 2021 - Unfinished
|A companion to previous lawsuits against Valve over their anti-competitive monopoly, this time covering consumers over their purchase of games on Steam.
|Not concluded, slowly being arbitrated.
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Valve Corporation]]
[[Category:Online companies]]

Valve

2026-05-19T16:22:36Z

SinexTitan: tf^2

{{Cleanup|Issue 1=Citations need better formatting and have archive URLs. See [[Template:Cite web]] for further assistance.}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American video game company known for distribution platform Steam and game series like Half Life, Portal, Team Fortress, and Counter Strike.
|Founded=1996
|Industry=Video game retail, Video game development, Video game hardware
|Logo=Valve_Corporation_Logo.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://valvesoftware.com/
}}

'''{{Wplink|Valve Corporation}}''' (also known as '''Valve Software''') is a software distribution company, most known for being the owner of the distribution service [[Steam]]. Valve additionally develops tools frequently used by various professional and amateur creators, such as Source Filmmaker and the Source Engines, as well as manufacturing hardware items such as the {{Wplink|Steam Deck}}. It was founded in 1996 by {{Wplink|Gabe Newell}} and Mike Harrington.

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

===Business model===
Valve's primary source of revenue is the sale of both its own and third party games on the Steam platform.
Valve also manufactures and sells gaming hardware systems. These products include: the Steam Deck, Steam Machine and Steam Frame which all run [[SteamOS]], Valve's Linux-based operating system, out of the box.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam Hardware |url=https://store.steampowered.com/sale/hardware |url-status=live |website=[[Steam]]}}</ref>

==Positives==

=== Publishing TF2 source code (2025.02.18) ===
On 18 February 2025, Valve released an update to the Source SDK, which added all the Team Fortress 2 client and server game code. With the source code content creators are allowed to build new games based off TF2.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Feb 2025 |title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218201538/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |archive-date=18 Feb 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=Team Fortress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders |url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |archive-date=10 Mar 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=BitSkins}}</ref>

===Contributions to open-source (''2018—'')===
Valve has made several noteworthy open-source contributions to advance software [[interoperability]], which have improved gaming on Linux and macOS, and running {{Wplink|x86}} software on {{Wplink|ARM}} processors.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" />

====Wine compatibility layer====
On 21 August 2018, Valve released the first version of the {{Wplink|Proton (software)|Proton}} compatibility layer,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Dawe |first=Liam |date=2018-08-21 |title=Valve officially confirm a new version of 'Steam Play' which includes a modified version of Wine |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2018/08/valve-officially-confirm-a-new-version-of-steam-play-which-includes-a-modified-version-of-wine/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=GamingOnLinux}}</ref> which was developed in partnership with {{Wplink|CodeWeavers}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schmid |first=Jana |date=2022-02-25 |title=CODEWEAVERS’ PROTON SOFTWARE SAUCE POWERS STEAM DECK |url=https://www.codeweavers.com/about/news/press/20220225 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=CodeWeavers}}</ref> Proton is the fork of the {{Wplink|Wine (software)|Wine}}<ref name=":4" /> compatibility layer that allows [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] programs to run on {{Wplink|POSIX}}-compliant {{Wplink|operating systems}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Run Windows applications on Linux, BSD, Solaris and macOS |url=https://www.winehq.org/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=WineHQ}}</ref> Proton's primary focus is to improve performance and compatibility of Windows games running on {{Wplink|Linux}} operating systems.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GitHub - ValveSoftware/Proton: Compatibility tool for Steam Play based on Wine and additional components |url=https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Github}}</ref> It works by translating Windows specific {{Wplink|DirectX}} API calls to {{Wplink|Vulkan}}.{{Citation needed}}

As an effect of developing Proton, Valve and CodeWeavers have upstreamed a lot of upgrades and fixes to Wine.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Larabel |first=Michael |date=2019-03-27 |title=A Lot Of Valve's Proton Work Is Landing Back In Upstream Wine |url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/Proton-Work-Back-In-Wine-4.2 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Phoronix}}</ref>

====FEX emulation layer====
On 12 November 2025, Valve announced the Steam Frame, an ARM based {{Wplink|VR headset}} which will be running {{Wplink|SteamOS}}.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Steve |last2=Lathan |first2=Patrick |last3=Makhnovets |first3=Vitalii |last4=Phetdara |first4=Tim |last5=Thang |first5=Jimmy |date=2025-11-14 |title=Valve Steam Machine, Desktop SteamOS, Steam Frame VR, & Controller {{!}} ft. Engineering Discussion |url=https://gamersnexus.net/news-pre-built-pc/valve-steam-machine-desktop-steamos-steam-frame-vr-controller-ft-engineering |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Gamers Nexus}}</ref> In order to to be compatible with most Windows x86 games, Valve will be using the FEX-Emu emulation layer alongside Proton.<ref name=":5" /> In an anniversary blog post, the FEX lead dev stated: <blockquote>I want to thank the people from Valve for being here from the start and allowing me to kickstart this project. They trusted me with the responsibility of designing and frameworking the project in a way that it can work long-term; not only for their use cases but also keeping it an open project that anyone can adapt for their own use cases.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Houdek |first=Ryan |date=2025-11-28 |title=FEX seven year anniversary! |url=https://fex-emu.com/FEXiversary/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=FEX-Emu}}</ref></blockquote>FEX works by emulating x86 specific instructions to ARM64.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FEX-Emu – A fast linux usermode x86 and x86-64 emulator |url=https://fex-emu.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=FEX-Emu}}</ref>

===Repairable hardware===
====Steam Deck====
Following the release of the Steam Deck in 2022, Gamers Nexus and iFixit released teardown videos praising the ease of dissassembly of the device,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Steve |last2=Lathan |first2=Patrick |last3=Stone |first3=Patrick |last4=Coleman |first4=Andrew |last5=Gallick |first5=Keegan |date=2022-02-08 |title=Steam Deck Tear-Down: Build Quality, Disassembly, & VRM Analysis |url=https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=dlsJB3narnk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=dlsJB3narnk |archive-date=2026-04-29 |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=Invidious}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Suovanen |first=Jeff |date=2022-02-15 |title=Steam Deck Teardown: Everything Valve Said Not to Do! |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/57101/steam-deck-teardown |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=iFixit}}</ref> the latter giving it a 7/10 on their repairability score.<ref name=":8" />

In collaboration with iFixit, Valve makes many of the Deck's parts available on iFixit for reasonable prices with first party repair guides.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam Deck LCD Repair Help |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Steam_Deck |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=iFixit}}</ref>

Except for the first party repair guides, the same praise<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Steve |last2=Clayton |first2=Jeremy |last3=Gaglione |first3=Mike |last4=Makhnovets |first4=Vitalii |date=2023-11-11 |title=They Changed Everything: Valve Steam Deck OLED vs. LCD Tear-Down |url=https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=9jhRh11bTRA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=9jhRh11bTRA |archive-date=2026-04-29 |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=Invidious}}</ref> alongside the parts availability for reasonable prices on iFixit is also applicable to the updated OLED model.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam Deck OLED Repair Help: Learn How to Fix It Yourself. |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Steam_Deck_OLED |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=iFixit}}</ref>

====Steam Controller (2nd Gen)====
Following the release of the Steam Controller (2nd Gen) in 2026, Gamers Nexus released a teardown video praising the ease of dissassemble of the device.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Steve |last2=Makhnovets |first2=Vitalii |last3=Williams |first3=Tannen |date=2026-04-28 |title=Impressive Repairability: Valve Steam Controller Tear-Down & Disassembly |url=https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=hVRfie61QyE |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=Invidious}}</ref>

In collaboration with iFixit, Valve makes many of the Controller's parts available on iFixit for reasonable prices with first party repair guides.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam Controller (2nd Generation) Repair Help |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Steam_Controller_%282nd_Generation%29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519141858/https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Steam_Controller_%282nd_Generation%29 |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=iFixit}}</ref>

==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]].

===PC version of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive replaced by Counter-Strike 2 (''2023'')===
Counter-Strike 2, previously available as a 'Limited Test' since March 22nd 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Ali |date=2023-03-22 |title=Here's how to access the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test {{!}} GamesRadar+ |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/counter-strike-2-limited-test/ |url-status=live |website=GamesRadar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214114651/https://www.gamesradar.com/counter-strike-2-limited-test/ |archive-date=14 Dec 2025}}</ref>, released on September 27th 2023, replacing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on [[Steam]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=2023-09-27 |title=After 11 years of CS:GO, Counter-Strike 2 has officially replaced the biggest game on Steam {{!}} GamesRadar+ |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/after-11-years-of-csgo-counter-strike-2-has-officially-replaced-the-biggest-game-on-steam/ |url-status=live |website=GamesRadar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223173642/https://www.gamesradar.com/after-11-years-of-csgo-counter-strike-2-has-officially-replaced-the-biggest-game-on-steam/ |archive-date=23 Dec 2025}}</ref>. This removed access to Global Offensive for those who had purchased it, every mainline PC Counter-Strike game before Global Offensive (Counter-Strike<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/10/CounterStrike/ |url-status=live |website=Steam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251230014611/https://store.steampowered.com/app/10/CounterStrike/ |archive-date=30 Dec 2025}}</ref>, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike: Condition Zero on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/80/CounterStrike_Condition_Zero/ |url-status=live |website=Steam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251228102653/https://store.steampowered.com/app/80/CounterStrike_Condition_Zero/ |archive-date=28 Dec 2025}}</ref> and Counter-Strike: Source<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike: Source on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/240/CounterStrike_Source/ |url-status=live |website=Steam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251217184118/https://store.steampowered.com/app/240/CounterStrike_Source/ |archive-date=17 Dec 2025}}</ref>) can still be purchased and played on [[Steam]] through a separate library entry so this was an unprecedented move from Valve.

A legacy version of Global Offensive called 'CS:GO Legacy' was released on October 10th 2023<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-10 |title=Legacy CS:GO Version |url=https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/73EF-08A3-0935-6369 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010111016/https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/73EF-08A3-0935-6369 |archive-date=2023-10-10}}</ref> after backlash from the Counter-Strike community towards the Counter-Strike 2 launch and Global Offensive replacement. This version can only be accessed while Counter-Strike 2 is installed<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilde |first=Tyler |date=2023-10-13 |title=How to play CS:GO now that Counter-Strike 2 is out {{!}} PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/you-can-still-play-csgo-at-least-if-you-consider-custom-servers-where-you-fight-final-fantasy-summons-playing-csgo/ |url-status=live |website=PCGamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251211035203/https://www.pcgamer.com/you-can-still-play-csgo-at-least-if-you-consider-custom-servers-where-you-fight-final-fantasy-summons-playing-csgo/ |archive-date=11 Dec 2025}}</ref>. Valve committed to supporting this version of the game until January 1st 2024<ref name=":0" /> but in that support window ignored bug reports from the community such as Counter-Strike 2 servers appearing in the community server browser with no way to distinguish these servers from Global Offensive servers unless the server specified what game it was targeting in it's name. CS:GO Legacy received only one update<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-13 |title=Counter-Strike 2 History · Change #20663547 · SteamDB |url=https://steamdb.info/app/730/history/?changeid=20663547 |url-status=live |website=SteamDB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251020235311/https://steamdb.info/app/730/history/?changeid=20663547 |archive-date=20 Oct 2025}}</ref> during its support window and this update didn't contain any public update notes so it is unclear what this may have fixed.

After the support window for CS:GO Legacy ended, numerous problems started occurring with the game. Global Offensive servers stopped appearing in the CS:GO Legacy community server browser<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-08 |title=CS:GO Legacy servers being rejected from Steam / CS:GO Legacy server browser listings · Issue #4047 · ValveSoftware/csgo-osx-linux |url=https://github.com/ValveSoftware/csgo-osx-linux/issues/4047 |url-status=live |website=GitHub |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514162130/https://github.com/ValveSoftware/csgo-osx-linux/issues/4047 |archive-date=14 May 2025}}</ref> which meant that only external third party server browsers could be used to find Global Offensive servers and these servers have to be added manually unlike [[Steam]]'s server browser which finds and queries new servers automatically. As a point of comparison, the mainline PC Counter-Strike games released before Global Offensive (Counter-Strike, Condition Zero and Source) still have a functional server browser without needing third party intervention.

It also became impossible to use multiple weapons (M4A1-S, USP-S, CZ75-Auto, MP5-SD, R8 Revolver) in regular gameplay on vanilla servers without plugins as the loadout system used to switch between weapons and equip weapon skins was discontinued on CS:GO Legacy.<ref>[[File:CS-GO Legacy Inventory Message.jpg|thumb|Pop-up message after attempting to open the Inventory on the main menu of CS:GO Legacy, screenshot taken 23rd October 2025.]]
</ref> There was an unofficial method of re-enabling the loadout system so these weapons could be equipped and used in game but this method was patched in the May 8th 2025 Counter-Strike 2 update.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Csgo_Legacy_2023 – BaseQ WiQi |url=https://wiki.baseq.fr/Installation-Guides/Source/Csgo_Legacy_2023?revision=7fa46e#enabling-back-your-inventory |url-status=live |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=BaseQ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105023533/https://wiki.baseq.fr/Installation-Guides/Source/Csgo_Legacy_2023?revision=7fa46e#enabling-back-your-inventory |archive-date=5 Jan 2026}}</ref> Although patched for its intended purpose, some CS:GO Legacy community servers still require this method for players to join their servers.<ref name=":3" />

===Steam users do not own their games (''2024'')===
In October 2024, Valve added a note to Steam's payment checkout screen which states: <blockquote>A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam. For full terms and conditions, please see the Steam Subscriber Agreement.</blockquote> This is attributed to a law passed in California which requires storefronts to clearly state whether a consumer is purchasing a license for digital media.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Shakir |first=Umar |date=11 Oct 2024 |title=Steam now says the ‘game’ you’re buying is really just a license |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/11/24267864/steam-buy-purchase-license-digital-storefront |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214142023/https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/11/24267864/steam-buy-purchase-license-digital-storefront |archive-date=14 Dec 2025}}</ref>

The licenses are tied to the Steam account, so if the consumer loses access to the account they will lose all the licenses with it.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=11 Oct 2024 |title=Steam's new disclaimer reminds everyone that you don't actually own your games, GOG moves in for the killshot: Its offline installers 'cannot be taken away from you' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/steams-new-disclaimer-reminds-everyone-that-you-dont-actually-own-your-games-gog-moves-in-for-the-killshot-its-offline-installers-cannot-be-taken-away-from-you/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=PC Gamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251117104943/https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/steams-new-disclaimer-reminds-everyone-that-you-dont-actually-own-your-games-gog-moves-in-for-the-killshot-its-offline-installers-cannot-be-taken-away-from-you/ |archive-date=17 Nov 2025}}</ref> Steam forbids consumers from transferring their licenses to other accounts, even if the accounts are owned by the same person that purchased the license. Steam forbids consumers from allowing other people to use their Steam account, even if passed down via a will.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Litchfield |first=Ted |date=2024-05-26 |title=You can't take it with you, but you can't leave it for someone else either: Valve says you aren't allowed to bequeath a Steam account in a will |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/you-cant-take-it-with-you-but-you-cant-leave-it-behind-either-valve-says-you-arent-allowed-to-bequeath-a-steam-account-in-a-will/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=PC Gamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114134401/https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/you-cant-take-it-with-you-but-you-cant-leave-it-behind-either-valve-says-you-arent-allowed-to-bequeath-a-steam-account-in-a-will/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>

This is in contrast to Steam's main competitor [https://www.gog.com/en/ GOG], which states on its payment checkout screen: <blockquote>A purchase of a digital product on GOG grants you its Offline Installers, which cannot be taken away from you.<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>Some games downloaded through Steam can be played without the Steam client running.<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of DRM-free games |url=https://steam.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_DRM-free_games |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251121055931/https://steam.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_DRM-free_games |archive-date=21 Nov 2025 |access-date=2026-01-22 |website=Fandom}}</ref>

==Products==
===Hardware===
*HTC VIVE (1st Gen)
*Steam Controller (1st Gen)
*Steam Controller (2nd Gen)
*Steam Deck
*Steam Deck OLED
*Steam Machine (1st Gen)
*Steam Machine (1st Gen)
*Steam Frame
*Valve Index

===Software===
*SteamOS 1.0
*SteamOS 2.0
*SteamOS 3.0

===Games===
*Counter Strike
*Counter Strike Global Offensive
*Counter Strike: Source
*Counter Strike 2
*Half Life: Alyx
*Half Life
*Half Life 2
*<s>Half Life 3</s>
*Portal
*Portal 2

==Lawsuits==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Dispute Title
!Year started and ended
(if concluded)
!Background Information
!Aftermath
!Related Articles
|-
|''ACCC v. Valve Corporation''<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 Mar 2016 |title=Federal Court finds Valve made misleading representations about consumer guarantees |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/federal-court-finds-valve-made-misleading-representations-about-consumer-guarantees |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=ACCC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251013070949/https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/federal-court-finds-valve-made-misleading-representations-about-consumer-guarantees |archive-date=13 Oct 2025}}</ref>
|2014–2016
|During this lawsuit, Valve was found by the Australian Federal Court to have refused to offer refunds for faulty or broken products.
|Users now have the ability to easily refund games they purchased, so long as they follow the refund policy.
|
|-
|''UFC Que Choisir v. Valve Corporation''<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Dec 2024 |title=Tough Times Ahead for Digital Video Game Resellers: French Supreme Court Ruling in UFC Que Choisir v. Valve |url=https://www.foxmandal.in/tough-times-ahead-for-digital-video-game-resellers-french-supreme-court-ruling-in-ufc-que-choisir-v-valve/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=Fox Mandal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204122942/https://www.foxmandal.in/tough-times-ahead-for-digital-video-game-resellers-french-supreme-court-ruling-in-ufc-que-choisir-v-valve/ |archive-date=4 Dec 2024}}</ref>
|2015–2019
(still disputed)
|UFC Que Choisir sued Valve on the grounds that users deserved to resell their digital licenses.
|Users in France had the right to resell their digital Steam library, overturned in October 2024.
|
|-
|''McLeod v. Valve Corp.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-04 |title=McLeod v. Valve Corp. |url=https://casetext.com/case/mcleod-v-valve-corp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126102613/https://casetext.com/case/mcleod-v-valve-corp |archive-date=2025-01-26 |access-date=2026-01-22 |website=Casetext}}</ref>
|2016
|MacLeod started the first antitrust case against Valve Corp. over the sale of their games.
|Absorbed into another legal dispute; continues to be dismissed within Seattle courts.
|
|-
|''Wolfire Games v. Valve Corp.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-06 |title=Wolfire Games LLC v. Valve Corp. |url=https://casetext.com/case/wolfire-games-llc-v-valve-corp-7 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250202174447/https://casetext.com/case/wolfire-games-llc-v-valve-corp-7 |archive-date=2025-02-02 |access-date=2026-01-22 |website=Casetext}}</ref>
|2021–2022
|The first notable antitrust case against Valve's unfair market manipulation of their games.
|Absorbed into another dispute/now a {{Wplink|class action}} lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=28 Nov 2024 |title=The antitrust lawsuit against Steam is now a class action, and that could have big repercussions for Valve |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/the-antitrust-lawsuit-against-steam-is-now-a-class-action-and-that-could-have-big-repercussions-for-valve/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=PC Gamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251118020850/https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/the-antitrust-lawsuit-against-steam-is-now-a-class-action-and-that-could-have-big-repercussions-for-valve/ |archive-date=18 Nov 2025}}</ref>
|
|-
|''Sean Colvin'' (and various others) ''v. Valve Corporation, CD Projekt S.A., CD Projekt, Inc., Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., Ubisoft, Inc., Ubisoft L.A., Inc., kChamp Games, Inc., Rust, LLC, and Devolver Digital, Inc.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Eriq |date=28 Jan 2021 |title=Popular Gaming Platform Accused of Abusing Market Power Through Contracts |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/popular-gaming-platform-accused-of-abusing-market-power-through-contracts-4124057/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114174554/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/popular-gaming-platform-accused-of-abusing-market-power-through-contracts-4124057/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>
|2021 - Unfinished
|Five individuals in California sued Valve (among various other publishers) over participating in anti-competitive behavior with the Steam platform, most notably over the sale of games for lesser prices on other platforms.
|Not concluded because of indefinite postponement by Valve.
|
|-
|''Bucher Law PLCC v. Valve Corp.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bucher Law Steam Lawsuit |url=https://lawgud.com/lawsuit/bucher-law-steam-lawsuit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708174529/https://lawgud.com/lawsuit/bucher-law-steam-lawsuit/ |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=LawGud}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-23 |title=Valve antitrust litigation |url=https://www.bucherlawfirm.com/_files/ugd/38f6ef_69ae2fee5c5548538d526669d99be533.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708174522/https://www.bucherlawfirm.com/_files/ugd/38f6ef_69ae2fee5c5548538d526669d99be533.pdf |archive-date=2025-07-08 |access-date=2026-01-22 |website=Bucher Law Firm}}</ref>
|C.A. 2021 - Unfinished
|A companion to previous lawsuits against Valve over their anti-competitive monopoly, this time covering consumers over their purchase of games on Steam.
|Not concluded, slowly being arbitrated.
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Valve Corporation]]
[[Category:Online companies]]

Stop Killing Games

2026-05-19T16:18:09Z

SinexTitan: ref 21 is still live

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=Campaign started by advocate Ross W. Scott to keep video games functional after their discontinuation.
|Founded=2024
|Industry=Video Games, Consumer Rights
|Logo=Stop killing games.jpeg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=
|Website=https://www.stopkillinggames.com/
}}
'''Stop Killing Games''' ('''SKG''') is a campaign intended to spread awareness regarding publishers revoking licenses for consumers and removing game functionality so that they are no longer in a playable state. The campaign was announced on 2 April 2024 by Accursed Farms, better known as Ross W. Scott, an American [[YouTube|YouTuber]] and consumer activist who is best known for his Freeman's Mind series.

==Campaign history==
On 2 April 2024, Accursed Farms posted the video "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games".<ref>{{Cite web |author=@Accursed_Farms |date=2 Apr 2024 |title=The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE |archive-date=12 Nov 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> In the video, Ross Scott explains the issue with modern gaming, where video game publishers often take advantage of laws.

Ross W. Scott has a history of advocating for game preservation and decrying what he calls "war on ownership" for over 12 years.<ref>{{Cite web |author=@therealmrglanet2127 |date=12 May 2025 |title=Stop Killing Games: A History |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlOX3wRQvUg |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

===UK Parliament petition===
On 16 April 2024, a UK Parliament petition titled "Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |date=Dec 2023 |title=Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/659071 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241114231235/https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/659071 |archive-date=14 Nov 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=UK Parliament Petitions}}</ref> began collecting signatures. The petition intended to create laws to prevent publishers from removing the ability to play games after purchase. The UK government answered on 2 May 2024, but the petitions committee requested Government to revise their response. The Government declined to do so. The petition was subsequently closed on 30 May 2024 due to the UK general elections,<ref name=":0" /> preventing further signatures. It reached 27,341 signatures and was originally scheduled to close on 16 October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |title=UK government responds to Stop Killing Games campaign |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign |website=GamesIndustry |date=15 May 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515115455/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign |archive-date=15 May 2024}}</ref>

On 14 January 2025, Lewis Evans created a petition titled "Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Lewis |date=14 Jan 2025 |title=Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114104021/https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ |archive-date=14 Jan 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=UK Parliament Petitions}}</ref> closely following the prematurely closed petition in 2024. It is yet to receive a government response and is due for one on January 30. Ross Scott published a video listing the events of the original petition, the government response and the creation of new petition.<ref>{{Cite web |author=@Accursed_Farms |date=14 Jan 2025 |title=Stop Killing Games: UK Edition |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQnZ91mUB0E |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=NQnZ91mUB0E |archive-date=2 Feb 2026 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

On 3 February 2025, the UK Government responded to the Petition, "There are no plans to amend UK consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, and we will continue to monitor this issue."<ref name=":1" /> As of 2 July 2025, the petition reached the goal of 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in the UK Parliament.

The Petition was debated by Parliament on 3 November 2025. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Stephanie Peacock, was the last speaker and provided the Government's position on the matter. The debate was adjourned without the Government having made any material changes from its view previously stated in February.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web
|last=Warren |first=Mark |title=Stop Killing Games' UK petition has been debated in parliament: "The law works, but companies may need to communicate better" |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/stop-killing-games-uk-petition-has-been-debated-in-parliament-the-law-works-but-companies-may-need-to-communicate-better |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=3 Nov 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251111002946/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/stop-killing-games-uk-petition-has-been-debated-in-parliament-the-law-works-but-companies-may-need-to-communicate-better |archive-date=11 Nov 2025}}</ref>

===European Citizens' Initiative===
On 19 June 2024, "Stop Destroying Videogames" was registered as a European Citizens' Initiative by Daniel Ondruska.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ondruska |first=Daniel |date=19 Jun 2024 |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619131907/https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en |archive-date=19 Jun 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=European Citizens' Initiative}}</ref> A month and a half later, on 31 July 2024, the initiative began collecting signatures. Accursed Farms posted the video "Europeans can save gaming!" later the same day, encouraging European citizens to sign the initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |author=@Accursed_Farms |date=31 Jul 2024 |title=Europeans can save gaming! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI |archive-date=31 Jul 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

About a week later, Thor of Pirate Software published a video covering SKG, with the intent to negatively criticize SKG.<ref>{{Cite web |author=@PirateSoftware |date=6 Aug 2024 |title=Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioqSvLqB46Y |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=ioqSvLqB46Y |archive-date=6 Aug 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Ross from Accursed Farms attempted to contact Thor about having false assumptions of the campaign's objectives. Ross cited Pirate Software's video as the primary cause for signatures drying up on the European Citizens' Initiative petition. Ross stated that they did not initially make a response video directed at Thor, because "it might look like drama farming" for the campaign, but when the deadline started drawing near, Ross went through with making a response on 23 June 2025, as a last-ditch effort to save the campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |author=@Accursed_Farms |date=23 Jun 2025 |title=The end of Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIfRLujXtUo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=HIfRLujXtUo |archive-date=23 Jun 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

For a European citizens' initiative to be valid, it must obtain at least one million valid signatures and meet the minimum thresholds in at least seven European Union countries. The deadline of the initiative was on 31 July 2025. By 25 June 2025, it had reached over 500,000 signatures, and finally met its goal of 1,000,000 on 3 July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |website=European Union Online Collection System |date= |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250703072953/https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |archive-date=3 Jul 2025}}</ref>

The collection of signatures ended 1 August 2025, with a total of 1,448,270 and 24 out of 27 state members crossing the minimum thresholds. In the following three months, the signatures will be verified and validated by all state members.

In an announcement from the initiative campaigners on 24 January 2026, the final count of verified signatures was 1,294,188.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Mr_Presidentle |title=Stop Killing Games: Final Count of Verified Signatures of the European Citizens Initiative |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1qluxts/stop_killing_games_final_count_of_verified/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=24 Jan 2026 |access-date=25 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260126002806/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1qluxts/stop_killing_games_final_count_of_verified/ |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref>

===Protect Our Games Act===
{{Main|Protect Our Games Act}}
Protect Our Games Act or Pog Act is a proposed California law, AB1921<ref>{{Cite_web |author=LegiScan, Chris Ward |date=12 February 2026 |title=CA AB1921 2025-2026 Regular Session |url=https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB1921/2025 |url-status=live |website=LegiScan}}</ref>, introduced by Chris Ward and backed by '''SKG''', that aims to establish consumer protections for purchases of video games with functionalities that depends on online services. The bill would be added to the California Business and Professions Code and would apply to digital games that are made available for purchase starting from 1st January 2027.

On 14 May 2026 the bill passed with 11 Ayes, 2 Nays and 2 Absent votes.{{Citation needed}}

==Industry push back==
On 4 July 2025, one day after the campaign reached 1,000,000 signatures, [[Video Games Europe]], an industry lobby group, released an statement on Stop Killing Games<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Statement on Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704203228/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |archive-date=4 Jul 2025}}</ref> on their website and published a five-page position paper<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Why providing continued support do not work for all games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=9 Jul 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704232256/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |archive-date=4 Jul 2025}}</ref> against the campaign where it outlined perceived problems seen by the industry even though some of those perceived problems were already clarified by the lengthy FAQ section provided by the campaign.

Video Games Europe response was not only unsurprising but also expected since their board is composed from major publishers like [[Electronic Arts]], [[Ubisoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Microsoft]] and [[Sony]], who see no problem in how the industry works today.

On 10 July 2025, Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot [[Ubisoft#Comments by executives on ownership|commented on the campaign]] during an investor meeting:
<blockquote>"We provide a service, but nothing is written in stone, and at some point the service may be discontinued. Nothing is eternal. And we do our best to make sure things go well for our players and buyers, because obviously support for old games cannot last forever."</blockquote>

On 21 July 2025, Ross Scott uploaded a video showcasing serious accusations made against the European initiative from an anonymous source.<ref>{{Cite web |author=@Accursed_Farms |date=21 Jul 2025 |title=The industry filed false claims against the "Stop Killing Games" initiative |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo |archive-date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> The accusations were relayed by the European Commission to Ross Scott and are:<br>
<blockquote>
1. False "No Funding" Declaration<br>
2. Systematic Concealment of Major Contribution</blockquote>

In the video Ross demonstrated how the accusations had no ground to stand on, and the process of communication that happened with the European Commission to verify the correctness of the campaign before it even began in July 2024. The document with the accusations can be found [https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ#i-D2f_fgILqBILJiavLwX-eh3pUPGnYeaQfdadiFH20 here].<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title= 250711SDVG_Complaint-1 .pdf |url=https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ#i-D2f_fgILqBILJiavLwX-eh3pUPGnYeaQfdadiFH20 |website=MEGA |date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |format=PDF |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250918074346/https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref>

On 16 April 2026, members of the Stop Killing Games movement had a public hearing with the European Parliament Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |author= European Parliament |title= Stop destroying video games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSla5vfGi3A |website=YouTube |date=16 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |format=Video}}</ref>

On an undisclosed date, the [[Entertainment Software Association]] (ESA) filed a comment against the Protect Our Games Act.<ref>{{Cite_web |author=Stop Killing Games |date=11 May 2026 |title=The Industry is lobbying against Stop Killing Games! (again) |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1t9ne7c/the_industry_is_lobbying_against_stop_killing/ |url-status=live |website=Reddit}}</ref> Despite the push-back, the bill passed on 14 May 2026.

==Video game preservation==
{{Main|Video game preservation}}

There are also efforts to restore older games, or to allow the gaming community to have access to the source code of the games themselves. In 2025, there were several developments by major publishers, such as [[Valve]] and [[EA]]. Valve released the source code of {{Wplink|Team Fortress 2}} in February.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Feb 2025 |title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218201538/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |archive-date=18 Feb 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=Team Fortress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders |url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |archive-date=10 Mar 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=BitSkins}}</ref> EA released the source code of [[EA releases source code of classic command and conquer titles|classic command and conquer titles]], also in February 2025.

==See Also==
*[[GOG.com]]
*[[Steam]]
*[[Valve]]
*[[EA]]
*[[Activision Blizzard]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Consumer activism]]
[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]
[[Category:European Union]]

Stop Killing Games

2026-05-19T16:16:55Z

SinexTitan: poggers

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=Campaign started by advocate Ross W. Scott to keep video games functional after their discontinuation.
|Founded=2024
|Industry=Video Games, Consumer Rights
|Logo=Stop killing games.jpeg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=
|Website=https://www.stopkillinggames.com/
}}
'''Stop Killing Games''' ('''SKG''') is a campaign intended to spread awareness regarding publishers revoking licenses for consumers and removing game functionality so that they are no longer in a playable state. The campaign was announced on 2 April 2024 by Accursed Farms, better known as Ross W. Scott, an American [[YouTube|YouTuber]] and consumer activist who is best known for his Freeman's Mind series.

==Campaign history==
On 2 April 2024, Accursed Farms posted the video "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games".<ref>{{Cite web |author=@Accursed_Farms |date=2 Apr 2024 |title=The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE |archive-date=12 Nov 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> In the video, Ross Scott explains the issue with modern gaming, where video game publishers often take advantage of laws.

Ross W. Scott has a history of advocating for game preservation and decrying what he calls "war on ownership" for over 12 years.<ref>{{Cite web |author=@therealmrglanet2127 |date=12 May 2025 |title=Stop Killing Games: A History |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlOX3wRQvUg |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

===UK Parliament petition===
On 16 April 2024, a UK Parliament petition titled "Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |date=Dec 2023 |title=Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/659071 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241114231235/https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/659071 |archive-date=14 Nov 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=UK Parliament Petitions}}</ref> began collecting signatures. The petition intended to create laws to prevent publishers from removing the ability to play games after purchase. The UK government answered on 2 May 2024, but the petitions committee requested Government to revise their response. The Government declined to do so. The petition was subsequently closed on 30 May 2024 due to the UK general elections,<ref name=":0" /> preventing further signatures. It reached 27,341 signatures and was originally scheduled to close on 16 October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |title=UK government responds to Stop Killing Games campaign |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign |website=GamesIndustry |date=15 May 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515115455/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign |archive-date=15 May 2024}}</ref>

On 14 January 2025, Lewis Evans created a petition titled "Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Lewis |date=14 Jan 2025 |title=Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114104021/https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ |archive-date=14 Jan 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=UK Parliament Petitions}}</ref> closely following the prematurely closed petition in 2024. It is yet to receive a government response and is due for one on January 30. Ross Scott published a video listing the events of the original petition, the government response and the creation of new petition.<ref>{{Cite web |author=@Accursed_Farms |date=14 Jan 2025 |title=Stop Killing Games: UK Edition |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQnZ91mUB0E |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=NQnZ91mUB0E |archive-date=2 Feb 2026 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

On 3 February 2025, the UK Government responded to the Petition, "There are no plans to amend UK consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, and we will continue to monitor this issue."<ref name=":1" /> As of 2 July 2025, the petition reached the goal of 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in the UK Parliament.

The Petition was debated by Parliament on 3 November 2025. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Stephanie Peacock, was the last speaker and provided the Government's position on the matter. The debate was adjourned without the Government having made any material changes from its view previously stated in February.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web
|last=Warren |first=Mark |title=Stop Killing Games' UK petition has been debated in parliament: "The law works, but companies may need to communicate better" |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/stop-killing-games-uk-petition-has-been-debated-in-parliament-the-law-works-but-companies-may-need-to-communicate-better |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=3 Nov 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251111002946/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/stop-killing-games-uk-petition-has-been-debated-in-parliament-the-law-works-but-companies-may-need-to-communicate-better |archive-date=11 Nov 2025}}</ref>

===European Citizens' Initiative===
On 19 June 2024, "Stop Destroying Videogames" was registered as a European Citizens' Initiative by Daniel Ondruska.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ondruska |first=Daniel |date=19 Jun 2024 |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619131907/https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en |archive-date=19 Jun 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=European Citizens' Initiative}}</ref> A month and a half later, on 31 July 2024, the initiative began collecting signatures. Accursed Farms posted the video "Europeans can save gaming!" later the same day, encouraging European citizens to sign the initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |author=@Accursed_Farms |date=31 Jul 2024 |title=Europeans can save gaming! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI |archive-date=31 Jul 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

About a week later, Thor of Pirate Software published a video covering SKG, with the intent to negatively criticize SKG.<ref>{{Cite web |author=@PirateSoftware |date=6 Aug 2024 |title=Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioqSvLqB46Y |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=ioqSvLqB46Y |archive-date=6 Aug 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Ross from Accursed Farms attempted to contact Thor about having false assumptions of the campaign's objectives. Ross cited Pirate Software's video as the primary cause for signatures drying up on the European Citizens' Initiative petition. Ross stated that they did not initially make a response video directed at Thor, because "it might look like drama farming" for the campaign, but when the deadline started drawing near, Ross went through with making a response on 23 June 2025, as a last-ditch effort to save the campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |author=@Accursed_Farms |date=23 Jun 2025 |title=The end of Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIfRLujXtUo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=HIfRLujXtUo |archive-date=23 Jun 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

For a European citizens' initiative to be valid, it must obtain at least one million valid signatures and meet the minimum thresholds in at least seven European Union countries. The deadline of the initiative was on 31 July 2025. By 25 June 2025, it had reached over 500,000 signatures, and finally met its goal of 1,000,000 on 3 July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |website=European Union Online Collection System |date= |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250703072953/https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |archive-date=3 Jul 2025}}</ref>

The collection of signatures ended 1 August 2025, with a total of 1,448,270 and 24 out of 27 state members crossing the minimum thresholds. In the following three months, the signatures will be verified and validated by all state members.

In an announcement from the initiative campaigners on 24 January 2026, the final count of verified signatures was 1,294,188.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Mr_Presidentle |title=Stop Killing Games: Final Count of Verified Signatures of the European Citizens Initiative |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1qluxts/stop_killing_games_final_count_of_verified/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=24 Jan 2026 |access-date=25 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260126002806/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1qluxts/stop_killing_games_final_count_of_verified/ |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref>

===Protect Our Games Act===
{{Main|Protect Our Games Act}}
Protect Our Games Act or Pog Act is a proposed California law, AB1921<ref>{{Cite_web |author=LegiScan, Chris Ward |date=12 February 2026 |title=CA AB1921 2025-2026 Regular Session |url=https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB1921/2025 |url-status=live |website=LegiScan}}</ref>, introduced by Chris Ward and backed by '''SKG''', that aims to establish consumer protections for purchases of video games with functionalities that depends on online services. The bill would be added to the California Business and Professions Code and would apply to digital games that are made available for purchase starting from 1st January 2027.

On 14 May 2026 the bill passed with 11 Ayes, 2 Nays and 2 Absent votes.{{Citation needed}}

== Industry push back ==
On 4 July 2025, one day after the campaign reached 1,000,000 signatures, [[Video Games Europe]], an industry lobby group, released an statement on Stop Killing Games<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Statement on Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704203228/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |archive-date=4 Jul 2025}}</ref> on their website and published a five-page position paper<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Why providing continued support do not work for all games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=9 Jul 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704232256/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |archive-date=4 Jul 2025}}</ref> against the campaign where it outlined perceived problems seen by the industry even though some of those perceived problems were already clarified by the lengthy FAQ section provided by the campaign.

Video Games Europe response was not only unsurprising but also expected since their board is composed from major publishers like [[Electronic Arts]], [[Ubisoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Microsoft]] and [[Sony]], who see no problem in how the industry works today.

On 10 July 2025, Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot [[Ubisoft#Comments by executives on ownership|commented on the campaign]] during an investor meeting:
<blockquote>"We provide a service, but nothing is written in stone, and at some point the service may be discontinued. Nothing is eternal. And we do our best to make sure things go well for our players and buyers, because obviously support for old games cannot last forever."</blockquote>

On 21 July 2025, Ross Scott uploaded a video showcasing serious accusations made against the European initiative from an anonymous source.<ref>{{Cite web |author=@Accursed_Farms |date=21 Jul 2025 |title=The industry filed false claims against the "Stop Killing Games" initiative |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo |archive-date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> The accusations were relayed by the European Commission to Ross Scott and are:<br>
<blockquote>
1. False "No Funding" Declaration<br>
2. Systematic Concealment of Major Contribution</blockquote>

In the video Ross demonstrated how the accusations had no ground to stand on, and the process of communication that happened with the European Commission to verify the correctness of the campaign before it even began in July 2024. The document with the accusations can be found [https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ#i-D2f_fgILqBILJiavLwX-eh3pUPGnYeaQfdadiFH20 here].<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title= 250711SDVG_Complaint-1 .pdf |url=https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ#i-D2f_fgILqBILJiavLwX-eh3pUPGnYeaQfdadiFH20 |website=MEGA |date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |format=PDF |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250918074346/https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref>

On 16 April 2026, members of the Stop Killing Games movement had a public hearing with the European Parliament Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |author= European Parliament |title= Stop destroying video games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSla5vfGi3A |website=YouTube |date=16 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |format=Video}}</ref>

On an undisclosed date, the [[Entertainment Software Association]] (ESA) filed a comment against the Protect Our Games Act.<ref>{{Cite_web |author=Stop Killing Games |date=11 May 2026 |title=The Industry is lobbying against Stop Killing Games! (again) |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1t9ne7c/the_industry_is_lobbying_against_stop_killing/ |url-status=live |website=Reddit}}</ref> Despite the push-back, the bill passed on 14 May 2026.

==Video game preservation==
{{Main|Video game preservation}}

There are also efforts to restore older games, or to allow the gaming community to have access to the source code of the games themselves. In 2025, there were several developments by major publishers, such as [[Valve]] and [[EA]]. Valve released the source code of {{Wplink|Team Fortress 2}} in February.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Feb 2025 |title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218201538/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |archive-date=18 Feb 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=Team Fortress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders |url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |archive-date=10 Mar 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=BitSkins}}</ref> EA released the source code of [[EA releases source code of classic command and conquer titles|classic command and conquer titles]], also in February 2025.

==See Also==
*[[GOG.com]]
*[[Steam]]
*[[Valve]]
*[[EA]]
*[[Activision Blizzard]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Consumer activism]]
[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]
[[Category:European Union]]

Protect Our Games Act

2026-04-10T08:52:29Z

SinexTitan: /* Featured articles on main page have light grey title on White background .. even on dark mode */ Reply

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{{Archives}} 
==Open tasks==

*[[:Category:Articles with deletion requests]]
*[[:Category:Articles with merge requests]]
*[[:Category:Articles marked as irrelevant]]
*[[Special:NewPages]]

==How will the CRW approach April Fool's day?==

Hi, April Fool's day is next month and I don't want to initiate a discussion too late, so how would we approach it? My idea is 1) no jokes in articles, no exceptions and 2) clearly mark all jokes when they occur (I've made [[Template:April fools]] for this purpose). [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:57, 2 March 2026 (UTC)

:If my science textbook in school gave me a QR code that ends up rickrolling me I think I'll spend longer than 1 day being distracted about it... lol
:In my opinion they should be contained within user pages and other types of pages the common person never visits, like having it as an extra link under Wiki policy or something. It would be really bad if someone in power happens to see it the one day they get told to visit a page on the wiki. Just my two cents... but then again I'm pretty biased against the day anyway [[User:Raster|Raster]] ([[User talk:Raster|talk]]) 06:56, 3 March 2026 (UTC)
::I don't even think we should have it under a link on Wiki policy, just silently add it with thr correct template the correct people internally will see it via recent changes. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 07:08, 3 March 2026 (UTC)
:Honestly, I don't think we will be doing one this year. [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 07:29, 3 March 2026 (UTC)
::Was there one last year? I don't think there was. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 07:36, 3 March 2026 (UTC)
:::There definitely wasn't. [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 08:29, 3 March 2026 (UTC)
::::I've deleted the template. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:10, 3 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::Might be worth undeleting it... Louis came up with an idea for an April Fools, based on that Norwegian enshittification video from the other day. Basic concept is to enshittify the wiki (maybe just the main page, and with an off button, of course) for a day. I fully agree with no jokes in articles - that's just a pain to keep track of and undo, and could damage credibility if done without good taste. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 10:33, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::I have had my ideas, but I'll keep them secret for now. I'll undelete it. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 15:54, 4 March 2026 (UTC)
::::::we could prob use the trollface as the wiki logo at least [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 04:21, 5 March 2026 (UTC)

==Appeal Request==

Hello! The article [[Advertising overload]] is marked as incomplete and as relying on AI/LLMs. I believe I've addressed the original intent of both of these, though the bottom section ([[Advertising overload#Notable Examples]]) is still a stub. I think the AI status notice should be removed, and the Incomplete notice should be replaced with a Stub notice.

Cheers! [[User:Scholar Silas|Scholar Silas]] ([[User talk:Scholar Silas|talk]]) 05:52, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

:{{Done}} including '''completely removing both notices''', not marking it as a stub. The article overall is very long, and if a section is all to complain about on a very long article, then it's definitely not a stub. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:02, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

==Who gets superconfirmed first?==

Hello, starting this discussion since the new superconfirmed usergroup has been added and we need to figure out who to give it to first. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 22:07, 13 March 2026 (UTC)

:Just tested it on [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsAlt]]; why can't it undelete pages? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 22:14, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
::I shall fix! [[User:JakeL|JakeL]] ([[User talk:JakeL|talk]]) 00:02, 15 March 2026 (UTC)
:::Also @[[User:JakeL|JakeL]] is semiprotection mow allowing superconfirmed users only as well as admins and not just normal confirmed users? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 06:23, 15 March 2026 (UTC)
::::Yes, autoconfirmed users no longer have the semiprotected permission. This was an intentional change requested by Keith [[User:JakeL|JakeL]] ([[User talk:JakeL|talk]]) 16:11, 15 March 2026 (UTC)

==add "Quasi-Wanted" Special page==

There are Wikipedia articles linked from many different CRW articles. It'd be nice to see which topics are candidates for a dedicated article on CRW. I say "topics", just-in-case a future update adds support for non-WP "pseudo-internal" links (because WP links are shown as "internal" even though they aren't)

Apologies in advance if this is not a place for feature-requests [[User:Rudxain|Rudxain]] ([[User talk:Rudxain|talk]]) 06:23, 15 March 2026 (UTC)

==Appeal request for Wikipedia article==
I've been testing out the browser plugin for the last few days and noticed it popped up on Wikipedia. After reading [[Wikipedia#cite note-15]] I wanted to challenge whether this article belongs on Consumer Rights Wiki, as I don't think it fits with the [[Mission statement]] or [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Inclusion guidelines]] at time of writing.

Aside from mentioning that Wikipedia is big and influential (not necessarily a bad thing), there are two incidents listed. The first one relates to individual editors. The only citation for this mentions "Wikipedia has taken action against what it described as the “co-ordinated group” of fraudsters by blocking 381 accounts.".

The second one is similar, it refers to behaviour of editors - the first citation mentions "Wikipedias in all languages, including English, are open to edits by any volunteers", and also mentions that "one of the ... admins at Scots Wikipedia, has called for native speakers to contribute as the community seeks to save the project.".

In both cases I think this is a reasonable response from Wikipedia, they stepped in to address the issues by blocking abusive users, acknowledged the inaccuracies and called for people to help fix them. Wikipedia is free, it's hosted by a non-profit organisation and the editors are not working for Wikipedia, they are independent users of the platform. I don't think it's fair to blame them for user-generated content, and in my opinion it hurts the cause when we include articles like this alongside articles highlighting genuinely abusive business practices. [[User:DiffChar|DiffChar]] ([[User talk:DiffChar|talk]]) 23:04, 17 March 2026 (UTC)

:When this came up, I was very concerned but decided to leave it alone. Considering someone else thinks the exact same way as me, i think it's honestly a good idea atp for me to add a deletion request template (which anyone can do, by the way!) and refer back here. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:14, 18 March 2026 (UTC)

:After looking it over myself, I agree - it's not relevant as it stands. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 19:41, 30 March 2026 (UTC)
::I'd concur as well. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 19:46, 30 March 2026 (UTC)
:::Deleted. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 19:49, 30 March 2026 (UTC)

==Can't Edit==

I'm trying to edit this [[Dairy Queen]] article, however after adding the stub notice it won't allow me to edit anymore. @[[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|AnotherConsumerRightsPerson]] [[User:SquidthePlummer|SquidthePlummer]] ([[User talk:SquidthePlummer|talk]]) 19:33, 23 March 2026 (UTC)

:{{Done}}. [[consumer_Rights_Wiki_talk:Moderators%27_noticeboard/Archive_4#Can_a_mod_please_remove_this?|Easy mistake to make]]. Next time, put it at the start of the article '''and''' leave a space. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 20:43, 23 March 2026 (UTC)

==so...==

abt that superuser role? has it been rolled out yet? got hit in the face w a stub notice bug again lol [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 14:08, 26 March 2026 (UTC)

:another thing. Phreeli has a valid entry in [[List of products and services with forced arbitration]]. still @[[User:Louis]] supported them w a dedicated [https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=e8SnNNq6MaI video], in which he states "so this is a company we started" and claims to be an unpaid board member. so I ask, what the fuck? Louis said to give a fuck abt consumer rights but he is not your savior. the video was released on 2025.12.19 and the citation on the list was archived on 2026.01.13, so it can be argued that it could be a development after the video was published. I have not seen him mention Phreeli since then. so I cannot say if they're still affiliated but the video is still up w no follow up (afaik). as y'all are in contact w the man, can we get a comment or perhaps an apology video w a ukulele cameo? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 15:30, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
::I discussed that here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_twkLJbc1c
::if there's an MVNO that's open to allowing people to pay with crypto without providing a name and address, I am happy to push them in that direction & help move it along. forced arbitration sucks balls, but every carrier has forced arbitration..... so this becomes a question of, should i not help push along a carrier that allows people to sign up in a more anonymous way, because 1 thing isn't to my liking... ??? the answer to that is no.
::framework doesn't release schematics... but after a long talk with the CEO, they'll allow you to get one if you contact them & sign an NDA. that's not what I want. but it is better than if I had not engaged at all.
::if i started a phone company/MVNO, it'd have no forced arbitration '''''AND''''' allow people to sign up with anonymous crypto without providing their name.... but i'm not starting a phone company... i am too busy as it is.
::phreeli belongs in that list of products & services with forced arbitration because they have forced arbitration. [[User:Louis|Louis]] ([[User talk:Louis|talk]]) 19:59, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
:::as mentioned in my previous comment I didn't know of that video. thank you. even tho its been a week, I still haven't found the time to watch it. perhaps many of the points I've highlighted have already been discussed in said video.
:::regardless, I agree that the existence of a more private MVNO's a blessing to see in a sea full of scammers. but I still would've liked to see them not go the same route as traditional operators regarding forced arbitration. everybody's "threat" model is diff so I can understand your stance. I'm a fairly regular watcher of the channel but somehow I missed the video. and based on the view discrepancy (378k vs 41k), many others have too. the follow up video includes the announcement in its description but the title and thumbnail do not reflect it being a follow up. I would like to see this rectified.
:::now on Framework, I did not know an NDA had to be signed in order to get the schematics. I checked the article and it does not mention that. based on my 5 min search I found [https://knowledgebase.frame.work/availability-of-schematics-and-boardviews-BJMZ6EAu this] but it does not mention an NDA, just to reach out to support. could you please provide sources? I'd like to append this to the article. I don't consider it egregious but for a person looking for them, they should know.
:::I'd like to highlight a conflict here. in the video you state "so this company we started" and in [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2009536/000200953624000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml this] SEC filing you're cited as a Director. I'd like to mention that I'm not American nor have any idea wtf this shit is, but I have a borderline idea on what SEC filings are. could you please explain to me what this means? ofc you yourself did not start the company but you are still listed as a director of the company.
:::an article on Phreeli does not exist and the arbitration list can be hard to find. so I will be creating one. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:52, 3 April 2026 (UTC)
:Superconfirmed has been rolled out, see [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Moderator applications]], BUT you need your email. I think this stuff should be done onwiki but whatever, I got mod without using email lol. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 21:26, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
::I went on a hiatus again lol so apologies for the slow response.
::I did email Keith on the matter b4 the rollout and recently did I get knighted. thank you mods [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:54, 3 April 2026 (UTC)

==I think Internet Archive has excluded anything from Bambu Lab==

I was on the Bambu Lab Authorization Control System page and I noticed that a lot of the archive links didn't work so I think Internet Archive has excluded anything from Bambu Lab.

Do I need to move all the archive links to Ghost Archive? [[User:Andrew V|Andrew V]] ([[User talk:Andrew V|talk]]) 16:20, 30 March 2026 (UTC)

:It's the other way around; Bambu Lab has specifically decided to block the IA. And yeah, you can certainly use Ghost Archive. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:22, 30 March 2026 (UTC)
::So should I switch all the archive links from IA to Ghost Archive [[User:Andrew V|Andrew V]] ([[User talk:Andrew V|talk]]) 16:24, 30 March 2026 (UTC)
:::Yes. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:25, 30 March 2026 (UTC)
::::Okay, I'll get started [[User:Andrew V|Andrew V]] ([[User talk:Andrew V|talk]]) 16:25, 30 March 2026 (UTC)
::Can confirm. I made a list of companies covered on this wiki that excluded themselves from the IA [[Internet Archive/Blocked companies|here]]. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 19:13, 2 April 2026 (UTC)
:::Thanks for making that article [[User:Andrew V|Andrew V]] ([[User talk:Andrew V|talk]]) 01:43, 3 April 2026 (UTC)
::::Of course! [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 19:10, 9 April 2026 (UTC)

==Archive everything==

is there a way the checking process for refs be automated? it is user maintained and isn't always accurate. perhaps all refs could be checked if they have the <code>archive-url=</code> filled? [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 18:26, 5 April 2026 (UTC)

==Featured articles on main page have light grey title on White background .. even on dark mode==

This isnt great for readability.

my setup for reference :

dark mode on CRW, Firefox. Linux Mint XFCE. [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:46, 6 April 2026 (UTC)

:wait i just went back and now they are black titles... i dont know what happened. mightve been a one time bug on my part ??? [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:49, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
::OK i figured it out... this is weird :
::it only happnes when i am LOGGED OUT of my account.
::to reiterate :
::when a user is logged out. the featured articles on the main page appear with light grey titles on white background ; which isnt great for readability ... especially for new users' first impression of the website.
::Once i am logged into my account, the titles now appear black with good contrast.
::I dont know why this is the case but it is consistent across my testing [[User:Plankton|Plankton]] ([[User talk:Plankton|talk]]) 04:51, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
:::@[[User:JakeL|JakeL]] this was an issue that I had before that I asked om your talkpage to fix, now it's happening again? [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 05:26, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
:::I'm going to throw in a curveball. logged in and I still got the issue. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 08:52, 10 April 2026 (UTC)

File:Signal logo.svg

2026-04-07T09:52:11Z

SinexTitan: SinexTitan uploaded a new version of File:Signal logo.svg

== Summary ==
Signal's logo as a SVG, sourced from https://signal.org/brand/
== Licensing ==
{{Fairuse}}