• conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works
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    7 days ago

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

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

    • uis@lemm.ee
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      7 days ago

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

      • LovableSidekick@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

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

        • Honytawk@lemmy.zip
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          7 days ago

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

          Or sold like their many assets.

          • LovableSidekick@lemmy.world
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            7 days ago

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

        • uis@lemm.ee
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          7 days ago

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

          It has FOSS exemption.

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

          In a way it does that.

    • SlopppyEngineer@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

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