Discontinuation bricking - Revision history

Rudxain: Add "See also" with "Remote disabling"

2026-03-17T03:13:50Z

Add "See also" with "Remote disabling"

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:13, 17 March 2026
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	*[[Rosetta Stone bricks legacy CD-based and downloadable software\|Rosetta Stone bricks legacy perpetual license CD software]]		*[[Rosetta Stone bricks legacy CD-based and downloadable software\|Rosetta Stone bricks legacy perpetual license CD software]]
	*[[List of products bricked by discontinuation]]		*[[List of products bricked by discontinuation]]

			== See also ==

			* [[Remote disabling]]

	==References==		==References==

SpanishLearner: Clarity

2026-02-27T09:31:47Z

Clarity

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:31, 27 February 2026
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	*[[End of life product\|EOL - end-of-life product]]		*[[End of life product\|EOL - end-of-life product]]
	*[[Stop Killing Games]]		*[[Stop Killing Games]]
	*[[Rosetta Stone bricks legacy CD-based and downloadable software]]		*[[Rosetta Stone bricks legacy CD-based and downloadable software\|Rosetta Stone bricks legacy perpetual license CD software]]
	*[[List of products bricked by discontinuation]]		*[[List of products bricked by discontinuation]]

SpanishLearner: Added to the further readings section

2026-02-27T09:29:29Z

Added to the further readings section

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:29, 27 February 2026
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	*[[End of life product\|EOL - end-of-life product]]		*[[End of life product\|EOL - end-of-life product]]
	*[[Stop Killing Games]]		*[[Stop Killing Games]]
			*[[Rosetta Stone bricks legacy CD-based and downloadable software]]
	*[[List of products bricked by discontinuation]]		*[[List of products bricked by discontinuation]]

SpanishLearner: Added a bulletpoint to "Warning signs..."

2026-02-27T09:28:45Z

Added a bulletpoint to "Warning signs..."

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:28, 27 February 2026
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	*'''The product requires regular physical input:''' For example, [[HP Inc.]] printer ink has a [[Digital rights management\|DRM]] mechanism that forces consumers to use HP ink exclusively and does not allow third-party cartridges. If HP goes out of business or decides to stop producing its ink cartridges, any printer dependent on it will become bricked, effectively discontinuing the printer, even if not explicitly stated.		*'''The product requires regular physical input:''' For example, [[HP Inc.]] printer ink has a [[Digital rights management\|DRM]] mechanism that forces consumers to use HP ink exclusively and does not allow third-party cartridges. If HP goes out of business or decides to stop producing its ink cartridges, any printer dependent on it will become bricked, effectively discontinuing the printer, even if not explicitly stated.
	*Remote initial activation of any kind (e.g. phone based code or internet based), even if the product is CD based, has a perpetual license and requires no internet connection to run.		*Remote initial activation of any kind (e.g. phone based code or internet based), even if the product is CD based, has a perpetual license and requires no internet connection to run. [[Rosetta Stone]] recently [[Rosetta Stone bricks legacy CD-based and downloadable software\|bricked their legacy CD products and downloadable software]] by taking down their activation servers and refusing to give user activation codes over the phone.

	==Further reading==		==Further reading==

SpanishLearner: /* Warning signs of discontinuation bricking */ Added a bullet point

2026-02-27T09:25:05Z

Warning signs of discontinuation bricking: Added a bullet point

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:25, 27 February 2026
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	*'''The product requires regular physical input:''' For example, [[HP Inc.]] printer ink has a [[Digital rights management\|DRM]] mechanism that forces consumers to use HP ink exclusively and does not allow third-party cartridges. If HP goes out of business or decides to stop producing its ink cartridges, any printer dependent on it will become bricked, effectively discontinuing the printer, even if not explicitly stated.		*'''The product requires regular physical input:''' For example, [[HP Inc.]] printer ink has a [[Digital rights management\|DRM]] mechanism that forces consumers to use HP ink exclusively and does not allow third-party cartridges. If HP goes out of business or decides to stop producing its ink cartridges, any printer dependent on it will become bricked, effectively discontinuing the printer, even if not explicitly stated.
			*Remote initial activation of any kind (e.g. phone based code or internet based), even if the product is CD based, has a perpetual license and requires no internet connection to run.

	==Further reading==		==Further reading==

ClippyFellow47: Minor grammar edits to improve tone.

2025-12-26T18:39:13Z

Minor grammar edits to improve tone.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:39, 26 December 2025
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	{{StubNotice}}{{ToneWarning}}		{{StubNotice}}{{ToneWarning}}
	'''Discontinuation bricking''' occurs when a product is rendered ~~no longer~~ functional ("bricked") because the manufacturer has decided to discontinue it. Discontinuation bricking usually occurs in products that require a connection to a remote server hosted by the producer. The product may become bricked if the company decides to shut down services or ~~if the company~~ goes out of business entirely, ~~while not~~ allowing the consumer to substitute those services with alternative and/or [[self-hosted]] solutions. End-of-life for a product does not require the product to be bricked.		'''Discontinuation bricking''' occurs when a product is rendered non-functional ("bricked") because the manufacturer has decided to discontinue it. Discontinuation bricking usually occurs in products that require a connection to a remote server hosted by the producer. The product may become bricked if the company decides to shut down services or goes out of business entirely, without allowing the consumer to substitute those services with alternative and/or [[self-hosted]] solutions. End-of-life for a product does not require the product to be bricked.

	{\| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto;"		{\| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto;"
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	\|No		\|No
	\|}<!-- Please expand chart -->		\|}<!-- Please expand chart -->
	==Impact to consumer rights==		==Impact on consumer rights==
	Discontinuation bricking, similar to [[planned obsolescence]], harms the consumer by making a product they paid for to eventually stop functioning, resulting in loss of ownership of ~~said~~ product, as functionality is stripped ~~from it~~.		Discontinuation bricking, similar to [[planned obsolescence]], harms the consumer by making a product they paid for eventually stop functioning, resulting in loss of ownership of the product as its functionality is stripped away.

	===Dependence on third-party bypasses===		===Dependence on third-party bypasses===
	After a product has been bricked, a consumer may wish to repair their product and return it ~~back~~ to a functioning state. De-bricking a product is not impossible but can be difficult depending on the severity of the problem. Consumers will inevitably look to third-parties for methods to ~~bypassing~~ the bricking which may ~~open the user~~ to [[security]] and safety risks. Bypasses may end up being expensive, with more complicated server-dependent products ~~needing~~ potentially ~~complicated~~ server infrastructure.		After a product has been bricked, a consumer may wish to repair their product and return it to a functioning state. De-bricking a product is not impossible, but it can be difficult depending on the severity of the problem. Consumers will inevitably look to third parties for methods to bypass the bricking, which may expose them to [[security]] and safety risks. Bypasses may end up being expensive, with more complicated, server-dependent products requiring potentially complex server infrastructure.

	===Resale falsification===		===Resale falsification===
	Products are often resold on the internet, and may be put on sale before a discontinuation ~~bricking occurs with~~ valid information ~~but become~~ invalidated afterwards causing [[false advertising]]. This has many implications:		Products are often resold on the internet and may be put on sale before discontinuation, leading to the occurrence of valid information that becomes invalidated afterwards, causing [[false advertising]]. This has many implications:

	#Sellers may be ~~completely~~ unaware of the discontinuation ~~bricking~~ and will continue ~~selling~~ their ~~product, hurting seller~~ reputation once the product becomes bricked and non-functional ~~afterwards~~.		#Sellers may be utterly unaware of the discontinuation, resulting in their product becoming bricked, and they will continue to sell it, potentially harming their reputation once the product becomes bricked and non-functional.
	#Buyers may be ~~completely~~ unaware of the discontinuation ~~bricking~~ and ~~will buy~~ the product, only to ~~have~~ it not function ~~and harming the buyer~~.		#Buyers may be unaware of the discontinuation and purchase the product, only to find it does not function, potentially causing harm to them.
	#Customers may learn about the discontinuation and decide to sell the product without providing adequate details, even without any malicious intent.		#Customers may learn about the discontinuation and decide to sell the product without providing adequate details, even without any malicious intent.

	==Environmental impact==		==Environmental impact==
	Discontinuation bricking will generate e-waste ~~given that~~ the product is no longer functional, and consumers will be forced to discard ~~the product~~.		Discontinuation bricking will generate e-waste, as the product will no longer be functional, and consumers will be forced to discard it.

	==Warning signs of discontinuation bricking==		==Warning signs of discontinuation bricking==
	Discontinuation bricking ~~is usually a consequence of~~ a remote service ~~shutting down~~ that the product ~~depends~~ on for complete functionality. The risk of discontinuation bricking occurring can be assessed beforehand by observing warning signs, such as:		Discontinuation bricking typically occurs when a remote service that the product relies on for complete functionality is shut down. The risk of discontinuation bricking occurring can be assessed beforehand by observing warning signs, such as:

	*'''Product requires an internet connection to a remote server:''' If a product requires connection to a remote server for functionality, there is a risk that the company may shut down the server ~~and brick~~ some, if not all, functions of the product. These connections may be necessary because:		*'''Product requires an internet connection to a remote server:''' If a product requires a connection to a remote server for functionality, there is a risk that the company may shut down the server, rendering some, if not all, functions of the product inoperable. These connections may be necessary because:

	*'''Product requires remote authorization:''' Product only works if you can receive ~~authorization~~ from an authorization server. If the authorization server shuts down, logins will become impossible. An unusual example ~~being~~ the [[Spotify Car Thing]] which stopped functioning after [[Spotify]] unauthorized the Car Thing from interacting with the Spotify App API.		*'''Product requires remote authorization:''' The Product only works if you can receive approval from an authorization server. If the authorization server shuts down, logins will become impossible. An unusual example is the [[Spotify Car Thing]] , which stopped functioning after [[Spotify]] unauthorized the Car Thing from interacting with the Spotify App API.

	*'''~~Product~~ has features ~~dependent~~ on remote sources:''' ~~The~~ product ~~may become bricked if it~~ is unable to access remote information ~~because of~~ server outages.		*'''The product has features that depend on remote sources:''' If the product is unable to access remote information due to server outages, it may become bricked.

	*'''~~Product depends~~ on a phone application to work:''' Updates to the app may remove support for the discontinued product. An example being the Spotify Car Thing which stopped functioning after Spotify unauthorized the Car Thing from interacting with the Spotify App API.<ref>{{cite web		*'''The product relies on a phone application to work:''' Updates to the app may remove support for the discontinued product. An example being the Spotify Car Thing, which stopped functioning after Spotify unauthorized the Car Thing from interacting with the Spotify App API.<ref>{{cite web
	\|first=Alexander \|last=Stoklosa \|title=Spotify's Oddball In-Car Music Device Is Getting Bricked. Turns Out There's an App For That. \|url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/spotify-car-thing-music-streaming-device-discontinued/ \|website=Motor Trend \|date=24 May 2024 \|access-date=8 Jul 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525231014/https://www.motortrend.com/news/spotify-car-thing-music-streaming-device-discontinued/ \|archive-date=25 May 2024}}</ref><!-- Maybe include a different example here? It feels a bit redundant considering this was the example for the previous point. --><!-- To be fair we may be better off just merging 1 and 2 and expanding upon 1, there's nearly no difference as the product and app go hand-in-hand -->		\|first=Alexander \|last=Stoklosa \|title=Spotify's Oddball In-Car Music Device Is Getting Bricked. Turns Out There's an App For That. \|url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/spotify-car-thing-music-streaming-device-discontinued/ \|website=Motor Trend \|date=24 May 2024 \|access-date=8 Jul 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525231014/https://www.motortrend.com/news/spotify-car-thing-music-streaming-device-discontinued/ \|archive-date=25 May 2024}}</ref><!-- Maybe include a different example here? It feels a bit redundant considering this was the example for the previous point. --><!-- To be fair we may be better off just merging 1 and 2 and expanding upon 1, there's nearly no difference as the product and app go hand-in-hand -->

	*'''~~Product~~ requires physical input ~~on a regular basis~~:''' ~~As an~~ example, [[HP Inc.]] printer ink has a [[Digital rights management\|DRM]] mechanism that forces consumers to ~~exclusively~~ use HP ink, and does not allow third-party cartridges. If HP goes out of business or decides to stop producing ~~their~~ ink cartridges, any printer dependent on it will become bricked, effectively discontinuing the printer even if not explicitly stated.		*'''The product requires regular physical input:''' For example, [[HP Inc.]] printer ink has a [[Digital rights management\|DRM]] mechanism that forces consumers to use HP ink exclusively and does not allow third-party cartridges. If HP goes out of business or decides to stop producing its ink cartridges, any printer dependent on it will become bricked, effectively discontinuing the printer, even if not explicitly stated.

	==Further reading==		==Further reading==

AnotherConsumerRightsPerson: collapsing is useless.

2025-11-22T19:37:44Z

collapsing is useless.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:37, 22 November 2025
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	'''Discontinuation bricking''' occurs when a product is rendered no longer functional ("bricked") because the manufacturer has decided to discontinue it. Discontinuation bricking usually occurs in products that require a connection to a remote server hosted by the producer. The product may become bricked if the company decides to shut down services or if the company goes out of business entirely, while not allowing the consumer to substitute those services with alternative and/or [[self-hosted]] solutions. End-of-life for a product does not require the product to be bricked.		'''Discontinuation bricking''' occurs when a product is rendered no longer functional ("bricked") because the manufacturer has decided to discontinue it. Discontinuation bricking usually occurs in products that require a connection to a remote server hosted by the producer. The product may become bricked if the company decides to shut down services or if the company goes out of business entirely, while not allowing the consumer to substitute those services with alternative and/or [[self-hosted]] solutions. End-of-life for a product does not require the product to be bricked.

	{\| class="wikitable ~~mw-collapsible~~" style="margin: auto;"		{\| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto;"
	\|+End-of-Life compared to bricking		\|+End-of-Life compared to bricking
	!		!

AnotherConsumerRightsPerson: changing cats with AWB

2025-10-26T18:46:20Z

changing cats with AWB

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	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}

	[[Category:Anti-~~Consumer_Practices~~]]		[[Category:Anti-consumer practices]]
	[[Category:Common terms]]		[[Category:Common terms]]
	[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]		[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

Beanie Bo: link

2025-10-25T13:10:17Z

link

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:10, 25 October 2025
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	*[[End of life product\|EOL - end-of-life product]]		*[[End of life product\|EOL - end-of-life product]]
	*[[Stop Killing Games]]		*[[Stop Killing Games]]
			*[[List of products bricked by discontinuation]]

	==References==		==References==

AnotherConsumerRightsPerson: Fixed see also section.

2025-10-22T15:02:03Z

Fixed see also section.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:02, 22 October 2025
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	*[[Spotify Car Thing]]		*[[Spotify Car Thing]]
	*[[Sonos]]		*[[Sonos]]
	*{{Wplink\|Orphaned_technology\|Orphaned technology}} on wikipedia.org
	*[[Logitech Harmony Link hub]]<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Harmony Link EoS or EoL \|url=https://support.logi.com/hc/en-us#!?return_to=%2Fhc%2Fen-us%23!%2Fs%2Fquestion%2F0D55A0000745EkC%2Fharmony-link-eos-or-eol \|website=[[Logitech]] \|date= \|access-date= \|url-status=dead \|archive-url= \|archive-date=}}<!-- Despite being archived 1.5K+ times, archive.org only displays the main help page and/or errors out. --></ref><ref>{{Cite web \|first=Chris \|last=Welch \|title=Logitech will brick its Harmony Link hub for all owners in March \|url=https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/11/8/16623076/logitech-harmony-link-discontinued-bricked \|website=The Verge \|date=8 Nov 2017 \|access-date=8 Jul 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108163527/https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/11/8/16623076/logitech-harmony-link-discontinued-bricked \|archive-date=8 Nov 2017}}</ref>
	*[[Nest Revolv Hub]]<ref>{{Cite web \|first=Kit \|last=Walsh \|title=Nest Reminds Customers That Ownership Isn't What It Used to Be \|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/04/nest-reminds-customers-ownership-isnt-what-it-used-be \|website=EFF \|date=5 Apr 2016 \|access-date=8 Jul 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405233010/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/04/nest-reminds-customers-ownership-isnt-what-it-used-be \|archive-date=5 Apr 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|first=David \|last=Gewirtz \|title=Revolv is dead. Google killed it. Long live innovation \|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/revolv-is-dead-google-killed-it-long-live-innovation/ \|website=ZDNET \|date=20 Jun 2016 \|access-date=8 Jul 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620223435/https://www.zdnet.com/article/revolv-is-dead-google-killed-it-long-live-innovation/ \|archive-date=20 Jun 2016}}</ref>
	*[[Amazon Astro]]<ref>{{Cite web \|first= \|last= \|title=Amazon Bricking Its Astro for Business Security Robots \|url=https://www.inc.com/amazon-bricking-its-astro-for-business-robots.html \|website=Inc. \|date=5 Jul 2024 \|access-date=8 Jul 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710101417/https://www.inc.com/amazon-bricking-its-astro-for-business-robots.html \|archive-date=10 Jul 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|first= \|last= \|title=Introducing Astro for Business: A Customizable Security Solution Bringing Peace of Mind to Owners of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses \|url=https://press.aboutamazon.com/2023/11/introducing-astro-for-business-a-customizable-security-solution-bringing-peace-of-mind-to-owners-of-small-and-medium-sized-businesses \|website=[[Amazon]] \|date=15 Nov 2023 \|access-date=8 Jul 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115163649/https://press.aboutamazon.com/2023/11/introducing-astro-for-business-a-customizable-security-solution-bringing-peace-of-mind-to-owners-of-small-and-medium-sized-businesses \|archive-date=15 Nov 2023}}</ref>
	*[[Neos SmartCam]]<ref>{{Cite web \|first= \|last= \|title=Which security camera? Neos Smartcams now defunct! \|url=https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6569550/which-security-camera-neos-smartcams-now-defunct \|website=MoneySavingExpert \|date=21 Nov 2024 \|access-date=8 Jul 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url= \|archive-date= \|quote=[...] But as of this month the app discontinued and the footage can only be used when putting the SD card into a PC.}}</ref>
	*[[Telstra\|Telstra TV (Roku-Powered Streaming Devices)]]		*[[Telstra\|Telstra TV (Roku-Powered Streaming Devices)]]

	~~==See also==~~
	*[[Planned obsolescence]]		*[[Planned obsolescence]]
	*[[Software degradation and lock-out]]
	*[[End of life product\|EOL - end-of-life product]]		*[[End of life product\|EOL - end-of-life product]]
			*[[Stop Killing Games]]

	==References==		==References==