Episodes

DRM, also known as Digital Rights Management, is the mechanism from which the Netflix is provided for your Chill. How do publishers retain control of their copyrighted content, all while allowing you to still enjoy it? That’s DRM at work. The issue is, DRM has invaded many different industries (see: video games as well as tractors). How does this affect you? Tune in and find out!

Sources:

• DigitalGuardian’s Blog, 15 October 2018, ‘What is Digital Rights Management?‘
• Guru3D, 10 November 2020, ‘Lawsuit against EA using Securom’
• How-To Geek, 16 September 2020, ‘HP’s Ink Subscription Has DRM That Disables Your Printer Cartridges‘
• ConsumerAffairs, 28 August 2014, ‘Keurig competitors crack company’s DRM code‘

On John Deere Tractors:

• Vice, 21 March 2017, ‘Why American Farmers Are Hacking Their Tractors With Ukrainian Firmware’
• Vice, 11 September 2018, ‘Farmer Lobbying Group Sells Out Farmers, Helps Enshrine John Deere’s Tractor Repair Monopoly’
• Wired, 19 September 2020, ‘John Deere Just Swindled Farmers out of Their Right to Repair‘

Website: https://techthoughts.gay
Instagram: https://instagram.com/techthoughtspodcast/

Opening Music: Another World by BETTOGH

Your smartphone, your smartwatch, your… ventilator? What could all of these things possibly have in common? That’s right!- they’re expensive. Worse than that, none of these devices can be easily repaired, if at all. Why is this the case, and is there anything we can do about it?

Sources:

Apple Centric Issues:

• iFixit, 7 April 2017, ‘Sorry Folks, iPhone 7 Home Buttons Aren’t User Replaceable’
• ExtremeTech, 27 September 2019, ‘Apple Will Now Warn If Your Screen Is Not ‘Genuine’ After Repair’
• ExtremeTech, 25 May 2018, ‘https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/270055-documents-reveal-apple-was-aware-of-iphone-6-bendgate-issues-before-launch’
• Louis Rossman/Rossman Group on Apple Authorized Service Centers

“Warranty Void If Removed” is illegal:

• DigitalTrends, 11 April 2018, ‘Those ‘warranty void if removed’ stickers are illegal, says the FTC’
• Vice, 10 April 2018, ‘FTC Says ‘Warranty Void If Removed’ Stickers Are Bullshit, Warns Manufacturers They’re Breaking the Law’

Medical Device Repair:

• CBS News, 8 July 2020, ‘Manufacturers hinder repairs of crucial COVID hospital equipment, critics warn’
• The American Prospect, 12 May 2020, ‘Coronavirus Reveals Consequences of Restricted Repair’
• Plastics Technology, 5 May 2020, ‘Coronavirus Emergency: Ventilator Valves 3D Printed at Hospital’
• Tech Times, 17 March 2020, ‘Maker of $11,000 Ventilator Valves Threatens to Sue Volunteers Using $1 3D-Printed Replicas That Just Saved 10 Coronavirus Patients!‘
• Medical Device Network, 18 March 2020, ‘Covid-19: start-up that saved lives with 3D-printed valve may face legal action’
• iFixit, Medical Device Repair Section

On Right to Repair:

• The New York Times, 23 October 2020, ‘Fix, or Toss? The ‘Right to Repair’ Movement Gains Ground‘
• European Commission website, page for the EU Circular Economy Action Plan

Website: https://techthoughts.gay
Instagram: https://instagram.com/techthoughtspodcast/

Opening Music: Another World by BETTOGH