this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2026
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You already have that; it's called the electricity bill
That’s the joke. Tech companies have started taking away basic functions, so they can then sell it back to you as a subscription. BMW’s heated seat subscription comes to mind. All BMWs are equipped with heated seats by default, but you can only turn the heater on if you pay a subscription for it.
*opens electrical repair kit with malicious intent*
(I wonder if BMW would try to sue you for finding a way to bypass this and turn on the heated seats without it? I wonder if they'd sue you if you turned this solution into a relatively easy-to-install mod product that others could install...)
In the US, my understanding is you can do it, but helping others do it (by publishing a how-to, selling a kit, even doing it for them) would be where you'd run afoul with the law
Interesting ... what law would they use to justify that?
I'm on solar and batteries. I haven't had an electricity bill in years.