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Comment by jillesvangurp | Hacker News Reader

The more relevant question is when governments will force Apple and Google to open up their app stores. Particularly Apple is enforcing a monopoly on browser engines by not allowing applications to use anything else than Safari on IOS. Google isn't much better and is forcing OEMs into, arguably, illegal licensing deals where they are required to ship Google apps. Breaking that monopoly will change the mobile web landscape.

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While they are at it, they can force PlayStation and Xbox to sell each others games on their closed systems. Then force Walmart to allow Target to open a kiosk rent free in their stores… Closing an adtech attack vector by restricting the browser engine on a device they paid all the R&D for to develop doesn’t make Apple a monopoly.

Sony and Microsoft should be forced to not prevent users from doing whatever they want on the hardware they purchased. Your second example isn't relevant.

When you buy it, it's your hardware, not theirs.

Disagree. My second example is very relevant just inconvenient for your argument. It demonstrates what you’re asking for applied to physical stores.

You can take apart the hardware and do anything you want with it. Replace any of chips, use any of the components to make your own console, etc. It’s not Sony or Microsofts fault you don’t have the technical chops for it.

No, it's irrelevant. In that scenario, Walmart is being forced to do something with their own "hardware", i.e. store. In the other scenario, a company is being forced to not prevent you from doing what you want with your hardware.

The principal at work here is that if you own it, you can do what you want with it.

It is also Sony and Microsoft's fault if they go after you legally for doing what you want with hardware you bought.

it's completely irrelevant

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