Hacker News Reader

Comment by ulamel | Hacker News Reader

big tech is trying to erase this concept from the consumer mind. Assuming someone tried to do everything legally (not pirating) when was the last time anyone "owned" anything. Music, Movies, TV shows, Software, you don't own any of it you are simply paying for server space.

View on HN

You couldn't have stated that more clearly. Is a disgrace. We're basically headed to rent features of all kinds. It's terrible.

It’s a point repeated practically infinite times daily on this website and any other tech community. It’s not a revelation deserving of accolades. It’s the nerd equivalent of “lower taxes!” at a political rally. This entire back and forth where all participants are clearly on the same side and are clearly regurgitating all the talking points of their shared ideology isn’t a conversation, it’s people patting eachother on the back.

Amazingly, this corporate desire goes back more than a hundred years. Edison cylinders had a "shrink-wrap" license trying to control what people did with the recordings they bought: https://www.flickr.com/photos/59414209@N00/5072909557/

That was later outlawed with the "first-sale doctrine": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine

I would say that it seems like it's time for some new legislation that supports consumer freedom. But given the state of American politics, I can only hope that Europe will do some pioneering work on this.

Not just big tech; there's a reason why "you will own nothing and be happy" is a thing.

Interesting quote. I just came across the exact quote reading the latest of "The Upheaval" by N.S. Lyon

It originally came from the WEF:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25068820

Reply on news.ycombinator.com