The shift from owning products to subscribing to access
In short: We are moving toward a world where ownership is replaced by perpetual licensing. This video examines how digital rights, hardware subscriptions, and 'technofeudalism' are reshaping our relationship with the things we use every day.
Jared Henderson explores the erosion of personal ownership in the modern era, highlighting how common items like Kindles, cars, and printers have transitioned into subscription-based services. He specifically notes that even digital media and gaming content—citing Wizards of the Coast as a long-standing example—are increasingly governed by restrictive licensing rather than true possession.
The discussion places these trends within the broader framework of 'Technofeudalism,' a concept explored by Yanis Varoufakis. The core concern is how these mechanisms shift power away from consumers, turning users into permanent tenants of digital and physical infrastructure.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: "You Will Own Nothing"
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