Just learned today that I am not allowed to update my cable modem's firmware. Also, I have no say in whether or not my ISP updates that firmware!
"It's the standard." "It's common industry practice." etc.
Does this business model bother anybody else? Doesn't anybody else see where this can lead?
What's to stop, say, Arris, from deciding that it's time for SB6141 owners to buy a new modem and in order to force them to do that, release a firmware update which slowly decreases the modem's functionality until it quits working?
And if this precedent is established, what about things like "smart tvs" and other objects connected to the vaunted "internet of things"?
Yep, Joe Blow has owned his refrigerator for two years now. Time for him to get a new one. ***ZAP*** Refrigerator start cooling less and less efficiently each day until it doesn't work at all.
First, there was planned obsolescence with cars wherein the manufacturers deliberately engineered components to wear out much sooner than they should. Now, if this crap is allowed to continue without being challenged, the consumer will be allowing manufacturers to remotely disable equipment and force buying of newer models.
If ISPs want to treat cable modems like they own them, then they SHOULD own them and the end user shouldn't have to purchase or rent them.