"Hold my beer" - Nintendo, releasing an EU centric revision. Meanwhile Apple and Samsung are digging up every legal loophole to prevent the law applying to their devices.

The past two phones I bought were not because they broke, but because they stopped being supported on apps that I need to use.

So I saw that my car offered up all sorts of useful diagnostic information for self diagnosing stuff. Was very excited and went to look at it for a generic fault without having to get software to tell me what the fault is. I thought "it's stupid it has fully functional computer display yet tells me basically "contact a dealer, but it's safe to drive" instead of what the problem is. Then I find out that because I'm in the USA, the company keeps it to themselves...

So if they see value in treating regions differently, they will absolutely go out of their way to screw over the regions that will let them.

I've read a couple stories of companies (planning to) release EU-only models there, but non-EU-compliant ones everywhere else.

Just like the USB-c on the iphone

I don't think every corporation is as petty as nintendo

The EU is a complex organization with different power poles and a variety of different interests. Add to that members of parliament do not always understand everything they vote for. And yes: you get bad things, nonsensical rules, but also good things.

Overall, I would say it's positive, but when it's bad it can be brutal.

Edit: I forgot to mention lobbying! Brussels is full of lobbyists!

Seriously, talk about major whiplash with how they do things lmao

All those people in Brussels are out of touch. They live in their own world.

not yet ! we hope !

John deer tractor lost a case that became famous in my rural area (and elsewhere). It now have to let repair shop acces the tools and allow repair on its tractors.

I take the win ! And we continue to push forward in talks, petitions, actions and repairs (autorised or else) Support and/or use open source.

Farming equipment is a particularly annoying one, that and construction vehicles, are becoming increasingly locked down by proprietary software and impossible to maintain yourself. You can't even employ mechanics outside the dealer network in some instances and it will be more so in the future.

microwave ovens..

in fact, make that all kitchen appliances.

Computers are not on it because you will never own one in the future. You will lease them.