The concept of ownership in the digital age is a complex and evolving topic. The article explores the idea that what we think we own is often just a subscription, and the power lies with the vendor. This is evident in various industries, from gaming to technology, where companies have the ability to remotely disable or remove features from products we've already paid for. The author uses the example of Ubisoft's decision to shut down servers for an online game, leaving players with a product they no longer could use, to illustrate this point. This incident sparked a petition, highlighting the blurred lines between ownership and subscription. The author argues that while software updates and patches are necessary, the expectation of some rights in a product one has paid for is reasonable. They suggest that an end-of-life software patch, allowing offline play or private server access, could be a compromise. The article delves into similar issues in other sectors, such as Apple's control over iPhone software installation and repairs, Microsoft's unexpected AI assistant upgrades, and Amazon's remote deletion of book copies. The author concludes that the current system favors big tech at the expense of consumers, and this raises important questions about the nature of ownership and the rights of consumers in the digital era.
