> backporting it to devices sold in the past (aren't there laws against this?) This could also describe Sony's behavior with the Playstation 3. Early-model PS

> backporting it to devices sold in the past (aren't there laws against this?) This could also describe Sony's behavior with the Playstation 3. Early-model PS3's contained a feature called OtherOS which allowed you to run Linux on the console in a way officially supported by Sony. Sony later decided to remove OtherOS support from the console in a firmware update. While technically optional, the firmware update was required to play online games on the console, or play subsequently produced game discs. IMHO it's fine if a hardware manufacturer chooses to remove features from newer models. OTOH reaching out through the cloud to remove features and cripple models that people have already bought should constitute deliberate fraud against the consumer. You bought something which was advertised to do X, Y, and Z, the manufacturer deliberately removes the capability to do X after you've purchased it -- it seems like it should be totally illegal for them to do that. If a car dealership owner decides to sell only cars without radios, that's their business decision, and it's not illegal for them to do business that way. If a car dealership owner decides to drive around town, breaking into cars people have already bought from him and removing their radios, he's going to jail and rightfully so. Why should PS3's be any different? Apparently, they are -- AFAIK Sony has suffered no legal consequences for its policy whatsoever. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otheros http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otheros