Techno-feudalism

Capitalism is dead. Now we have something much worse; technofeudalism - modern digital purchases are not true ownership but revocable licenses, meaning companies like Sony, Amazon, and Apple can remove content you've paid for. Unlike physical goods, digital content cannot be legally resold (due to courts ruling the "first sale doctrine" doesn't apply). This, combined with a rise in subscriptions for software (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud), and even physical products like printers and car features (e.g., BMW heated seats), forces consumers into being "perpetual customers". If digital platforms like D&D Beyond or Magic the Gathering Arena shut down, purchased content could be lost.

This trend is ironically linked to the phrase "you will own nothing and be happy," originally from a World Economic Forum article about a utopian sharing economy, but now reflecting a dystopian reality of "technofudalism" where companies extract "rent" for access to digital infrastructure.

To combat this, advises:

• Buy physical media to retain ownership rights and avoid DRM.
• Stop buying digital content from restrictive platforms.
• Support "Right to Repair" initiatives and organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
• "Vote with your dollars" by refusing to buy products with restrictive subscription models.