Right to repair is overdue, from an ecological point of view if nothing else.

Subscription-based pricing is coming to every powered thing you own if we don't get something like this.

I don't understand. How exactly is the right to repair going to influence subscription based pricing? Aside from voiding your warranty if you open your/the/a device?

I imagine the ability to cheaply repair out-of-warranty devices would put some pressure on companies to extend the terms of their warranties.

If it's a subscription model, there's no motivation to try to repair it oneself. No one gets under the hood of a leased car.

I'm talking about hardware. If you bought your car outright, but bought a subscription to keep it running, you'd sure as hell get under the hood to fix it, yes? That's the deal with digital devices. You buy the device outright, but pay a subscription to use apps/ software, connectivity/connectivity to other devices. If you don't buy the device outright, but lease it, then I understand.

It's about ownership vs. licensing. They're making the argument that because hardware like tractors and cars and whatnot are largely software controlled then (and this is total bullshit we've allowed this to happen) much like software you don't actually own your purchase, you're just licensing it from the company. Expanding on this, we're now seeing companies using subscription models to force you to regularly update your license or lose functionality. Some examples are Tesla, BMW, and even some rando motorcycle airbag jacket.

It's really already happening to a degree, see GE FILTERGATE. The original site is down but you can still find the info on the situation. In the next iteration the fridge will probably inform you directly, "You have used up all of your ice credits for this period. To continue enjoying ice please log onto our website, choose your ice subscription level and make a payment."


Edit: Follow-up to article, it seems like it would not totally shut-off the ice, but you still had to use their specific filters.

Also, printer ink.

But if kept up to date with the subscription, you wouldn't want to be tied to manufacturer to fix the hardware problem. Unless of course the problem is software based. That's the only connection I see between subscription based pricing and the right to repair.

To clarify, the link between RtR and subscription hardware is subtle.

If you have RtR, then you have the right to the knowledge required to keep something operational indefinitely. It doesn't mean that they can't charge a subscription fee initially, but they can't EoL a device and brick it any longer.

If you get a RtR for software (or at least firmware), that would really help. Essentially, I should at least be able to sign my own software update for my own device. Of course, the FCC and FDA will object to this.