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codedokodeyesterday at 5:38 PM6 repliesview on HN

In my opinion, every manufacturer of a programmable device should not be allowed to prevent the buyer from reprogramming it.


Replies

rstuart4133today at 3:50 AM

I would not buy a FIDO2 token if it allowed anybody to reprogram it, including me. If you managed to make selling me such a device illegal, then may a pox descend on your house.

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lostlogintoday at 5:01 AM

What about a pacemaker? Or a car?

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tompyesterday at 11:18 PM

Well, your opinion is literally illegal.

You're legally (and technically) prohibited from re-programming GPS modules, GSM modules, and probably many stuff in cars as well.

(Actually, maybe contractually when it comes to GPS modules.)

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stemlordyesterday at 11:00 PM

Agreed, even if solely for sustainability purposes in reducing ewaste

IshKebabyesterday at 7:44 PM

I agree, with maybe minor exceptions. It's probably reasonable that radio hardware can't trivially be reprogrammed to exceed regulated power limits. Or for stuff that is extremely safety critical like pacemakers (though I think for those things it should be mandatory to share source code).

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dmitrygryesterday at 8:21 PM

Perfect. Go take your enthusiasm to John Deere, and the Xbox division.

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