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This doesn’t make sense because most hardware with custom parts are actively manufactured and sold for longer than 3 years. If companies were forced to release
by MatthiasPortzel 3y ago
This doesn’t make sense because most hardware with custom parts are actively manufactured and sold for longer than 3 years. If companies were forced to release all internal documentation, that only guarantees that competitors would begin manufacturing clones while the original product was still being sold. It wouldn’t accomplish the goal of getting replacement parts in the hands of consumers.
- hedora 3y agoPatent and copyright law already prevent that. Most devices are built on lines that also produce stuff for direct competitors (in places with traditionally-lax IP laws).
- JohnFen 3y agoIt wasn't really that long ago when you got schematics for pretty much any piece of electronics you bought, because it made repairs possible. That practice stopped because manufacturers wanted you to throw your broken things away and replace them rather than fix them.