Proprietary Subscriptions

Nonfree (proprietary) software is very often malware (designed to mistreat the user). Nonfree software is controlled by its developers, which puts them in a position of power over the users; that is the basic injustice. The developers and manufacturers often exercise that power to the detriment of the users they ought to serve.

This typically takes the form of malicious functionalities.

It sounds simple to say that a certain program “requires a subscription.” What that means concretely is that it contains a time bomb, so that it will refuse to operate after that date. Or else it is tethered to a server, and that server checks the date. Either one is a malicious functionality.

Examples of software subscriptions that harmed users directly are given below.

If you know of an example that ought to be in this page but isn't here, please write to <webmasters@gnu.org> to inform us. Please include the URL of a trustworthy reference or two to serve as specific substantiation.

2020-08
Apple can remotely cut off any developer's access to the tools for developing software for iOS or MacOS.

Epic (Apple's target in this example) makes nonfree games which have their own malicious features, but that doesn't make it acceptable for Apple to have this sort of power.
2020-07
BMW is trying to lock certain features of its cars, and force people to pay to use part of the car they already bought. This is done through forced update of the car software via a radio-operated back door.
2019-10
Adobe has cancelled the software subscriptions of all users in Venezuela. This demonstrates how a requirement for subscription can be turned into a tool for sabotage.
2019-02
The HP “ink subscription” cartridges have DRM that constantly communicates with HP servers to make sure the user is still paying for the subscription, and hasn't printed more pages than were paid for.

Even though the ink subscription program may be cheaper in some specific cases, it spies on users, and involves totally unacceptable restrictions in the use of ink cartridges that would otherwise be in working order.
2017-11
Sony has brought back its robotic pet Aibo, this time with a universal back door, and tethered to a server that requires a subscription.
2017-10
The Canary home surveillance camera has been sabotaged by its manufacturer, turning off many features unless the user starts paying for a subscription.

With manufacturers like these, who needs security breakers?

The purchasers should learn the larger lesson and reject connected appliances with embedded proprietary software. Every such product is a temptation to commit sabotage.
2015-07
Microsoft Office forces users to subscribe to Office 365 to be able to create/edit documents.
2014-02
Adobe tools require a subscription. Adobe also tried to rip people off by making the subscriptions annual, but that is a secondary issue compared with the basic wrong of the time bomb. When a program proprietary, and even malware, don't get distracted by the secondary issues like price.

(Please don't repeat the marketing term “Creative Cloud” except to express revulsion for it. The term “cloud” is designed to cloud users' minds.)

Proprietary malware

By type

By product

By company