Disabling online features in retaliation: Difference between revisions
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'''Manufacturer directly inflicts harm''' | '''Manufacturer directly inflicts harm''' | ||
The manufacturer has the ability to inflict immediate and direct harm by reducing the utility and value of the product whenever the manufacturer sees fit, based on terms that the manufacturer imposed. | The manufacturer has the ability to inflict immediate and direct harm by reducing the utility and value of the product whenever the manufacturer sees fit, based on terms that the manufacturer imposed. | ||
Even if the customer has any recourse available, the manufacturer can decide to keep online features disabled during the dispute. | Even if the customer has any recourse available, the manufacturer can decide to keep online features disabled during the dispute. | ||
'''Chilling effect''' | '''Chilling effect''' | ||
Customers may refrain from using their product in otherwise legal ways, due to fear of the manufacturer retaliating. | Customers may refrain from using their product in otherwise legal ways, due to fear of the manufacturer retaliating. | ||
'''Anti-competitive''' | '''Anti-competitive''' | ||
Business may use this tactic to force the consumer to | |||
Business may use this tactic to force the consumer to buy only first party accessories / replacement parts. Regardless of whether the third party products can be legally put on the market, the manufacturer can still threaten the customer with an online ban. This stifles competition in the product's after-market. | |||
'''Perverse incentive to add online features''' | '''Perverse incentive to add online features''' | ||
Manufacturers may design their products with an unnecessary reliance on online features to use it as an enforcement mechanism, rather than adding value to the product. | Manufacturers may design their products with an unnecessary reliance on online features to use it as an enforcement mechanism, rather than adding value to the product. | ||
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Some examples of disabling online features in retaliation include: | Some examples of disabling online features in retaliation include: | ||
* [[Nintendo Switch 2]] consoles disabling [[Nintendo Switch Online]] functionality when MIG Switch cartridges are detected.<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 |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> | *[[Nintendo Switch 2]] consoles disabling [[Nintendo Switch Online]] functionality when MIG Switch cartridges are detected.<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 |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> | ||
* [[Molekule Air Purifier|Molekule Air Purifiers]] disabling Molekule Services (required for using the Molekule app) when 3rd party replacement filters are detected.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Louis |first=Rossmann |date=2025-10-04 |title=YouTube: Air filters have DRM now 🤦♂️ |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCu_n2Nddu0 |website=YouTube}}</ref> | *[[Molekule Air Purifier|Molekule Air Purifiers]] disabling Molekule Services (required for using the Molekule app) when 3rd party replacement filters are detected.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Louis |first=Rossmann |date=2025-10-04 |title=YouTube: Air filters have DRM now 🤦♂️ |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCu_n2Nddu0 |website=YouTube}}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||