You should propose it! I hear the CFPB is looking for new ways to protect consumers.

Sounds like a good intention with bad consequences. It would incentivise operating systems to become subscriptions too. Plus, it would never happen. If a company goes bankrupt they can’t buy back the devices.

I’d rather they were forced to release their software to the public, making it a requirement without which bankruptcy or sales would be refused by regulatory agencies. That way hobbyists could still get them to work, perhaps even launch a new company to revive the old devices (reducing e-waste). Additionally, we could detect if they had been doing anything shady with the data.

Then the hardware is not a purchase, but a lease (without time limits). And the vendor would have to refund lease payment if it stops working.

If you want to go the other way, a hardware that requires a paid service should be jail-breakable. If the designated service stops working, then the service should be open-sourced. (We would love this on HN but just imagine the OpenSource overload engineers like us would be overwhelmed with to the point no one would try.)

> If the hardware requires software that is not available for self service, then the customer is entitled for full refund at any time.

If a service it depends on goes away within X years (5? 10?) you're owed a prorated refund.

Why is this regulation necessary? You can just choose not to buy products whose future you’re skeptical of.

In this case, Humane would likely go bankrupt rather than pay out the refunds your regulation would require, so it would still be ineffective in protecting consumers.

Oligarchs will say no