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<title>Proprietary Tyrants - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title>
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<h2>Proprietary Tyrants</h2>
<div class="infobox">
<hr class="full-width" />
<p>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; <a
href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">that is the
basic injustice</a>. The developers and manufacturers often exercise
that power to the detriment of the users they ought to serve.</p>
<p>This typically takes the form of malicious functionalities.</p>
<hr class="full-width" />
</div>
<div class="article">
<p>A <em>tyrant</em> is a malicious device that refuses to allow users to
install a different operating system or a modified operating
system. These devices have measures to block execution of anything
other than the “approved” system versions. We also
refer to this practice as <em>tivoization</em>.
</p>
<div class="important">
<p>If you know of an example that ought to be in this page but isn't
here, please write
to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><webmasters@gnu.org></a>
to inform us. Please include the URL of a trustworthy reference or two
to serve as specific substantiation.</p>
</div>
<div class="column-limit" id="proprietary-tyrants"></div>
<ul class="blurbs">
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. -->
<li id="M202507270">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Samsung disabled the option to unlock the bootloader
in the new version of its proprietary Android distribution, <a
href="https://www.sammobile.com/news/say-goodbye-to-your-custom-roms-as-one-ui-8-kills-bootloader-unlock/">
making it impossible for users to install a third-party operating
system on their mobile devices</a>. This takes away people's right to
run the system of their choice (which we hope is a free/libre system),
and to extend the life of their device once Samsung stops supporting
its software.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. -->
<li id="M202505100">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-05</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Nintendo has been known to <a
href="/proprietary/malware-games.html#M201410130">remotely brick
the Wii</a> until users consented to new, more restrictive legal
terms. This company is now pushing tyranny even further: in the
2025 update of its User Account Agreement, it warns that <a
href="https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-reserves-the-right-to-brick-your-console-following-unauthorised-use-in-bid-to-prevent-piracy">
Switch consoles may be <em>permanently</em> bricked if they are
not used as authorized</a>.</p>
<p>In addition, Nintendo can record audio and video chats for
moderation purposes. User's consent is required, but there is no
guarantee that the recordings will not be sent to third parties.
In short, there is no privacy in these chats.</p>
<p>If you ever consider buying a Switch, think twice, because you
will not own it. Nintendo will.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. -->
<li id="M202312040">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2023-12</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Bungie's Destiny 2 is plagued with two major flaws:</p>
<ul>
<li>Like all proprietary tethered games, <a
href="https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/articles/is-destiny-2-down-how-to-check-server-maintenance-and-downtime">
it can't be played when the company's servers are offline</a>.</li>
<li>Ever since Bungie chose BattlEye as an anti-cheat program,
Destiny 2 has been <a href="https://areweanticheatyet.com/">
incompatible with GNU/Linux</a> <small>[this page can't be viewed
without JavaScript]</small>. Bungie forces Steam Deck users
to <a href="https://www.pcguide.com/steam-deck/play-destiny-2/">
replace SteamOS with Windows, or play from Edge browser</a>.
This doesn't have to be so, as several other games that use BattlEye
do support GNU/Linux systems. Rather than doing the necessary
adjustments, Bungie forces users to run nonfree software in order to
keep an absolute control over them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. -->
<li id="M202303080">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2023-03</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Motorola ships Android phones
with a locked bootloader, offering a <a
href="https://en-us.support.motorola.com/app/standalone/bootloader/unlock-your-device-a">
method to unlock</a> the devices. The method involves creating an
account, which requires running nonfree JavaScript and disclosing
personal data as well as identifying at least your phone's model.</p>
<p>This puts users in danger of privacy breaches in exchange for
permission to modify the software that runs in a device they own. Users
should be free to modify this and all software as they wish, without
interference from the manufacturer or developer.</p>
<p>Back in 2013 (when the company
was owned by Google) someone found a way to <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250422121516/http://blog.azimuthsecurity.com/2013/04/unlocking-motorola-bootloader.html">
crack</a> the bootloader
restrictions. Android developers also provide a <a
href="https://source.android.com/docs/core/architecture/bootloader/locking_unlocking">
lock/unlock</a> method.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. -->
<li id="M202210110">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2022-10</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Xiaomi provides a tool to <a
href="https://www.guidetoroot.com/unlock-bootloader-on-any-xiaomi-phones/">
unlock the bootloader of Xiaomi smartphones and tablets</a>,
but this requires creating an account on the company's servers,
i.e. providing your phone number. This is the price you have to pay
for “legally” running a free software operating system
on Xiaomi devices. But the manufacturer retains control of the
unlocked device through a backdoor in the bootloader—the same
backdoor that was remotely used to unlock it.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. -->
<li id="M201802120">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-02</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Apple devices lock users in <a
href="https://gizmodo.com/homepod-is-the-ultimate-apple-product-in-a-bad-way-1822883347">
solely to Apple services</a> by being designed to be incompatible
with all other options, ethical or unethical.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. --> (追記ここまで)
<li id="M201607150">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Microsoft accidentally left a way for users
to install GNU/Linux on Windows RT tablets, but now it has <a
(削除) href="http://www.securitynewspaper.com/2016/07/15/microsoft-silently-kills-dev-backdoor-boots-linux-locked-windows-rt-slabs/"> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.securitynewspaper.com/2016/07/15/microsoft-silently-kills-dev-backdoor-boots-linux-locked-windows-rt-slabs/"> (追記ここまで)
“fixed” the “error”</a>. They have the gall
to call this “protecting” the users. The article talks
of installing “Linux”, but the context shows it is really
<a href="/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html">GNU/Linux</a> that users install.</p>
</li>
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. --> (追記ここまで)
<li id="M201412010">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2014-12</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Apple arbitrarily <a
(削除) href="http://9to5mac.com/2014/12/01/ios-8-1-signing-window-closed/">blocks (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://9to5mac.com/2014/12/01/ios-8-1-signing-window-closed/">blocks (追記ここまで)
users from installing old versions of iOS</a>.</p>
</li>
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. --> (追記ここまで)
<li id="M201403150">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2014-03</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p><a (削除) href="http://soylentnews.org/article.pl?sid=14/03/15/1912255"> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="https://soylentnews.org/article.pl?sid=14/03/15/1912255"> (追記ここまで)
Intel processors will have tyrant software built in</a>.</p>
</li>
(削除) <li id="M201304080">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2013-04</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. (追記ここまで) -->
(削除) <p>Motorola, then owned by Google, made <a
href="http://blog.azimuthsecurity.com/2013/04/unlocking-motorola-bootloader.html">
Android phones that are tyrants</a> (though someone found a way to
crack the restriction).</p>
</li> (削除ここまで)
<li id="M201212180">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2012-12</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Samsung “Smart” TVs have <a
href="https://wiki.samygo.tv/index.php?title=SamyGO_for_DUMMIES#What_are_Restricted_Firmwares.3F">
turned Linux into the base for a tyrant system</a> so as to impose
DRM. What enables Samsung to do this is that Linux is released
under GNU GPL version 2, <a
href="/licenses/rms-why-gplv3.html">not version 3</a>, together with
a weak interpretation of GPL version 2.</p>
</li>
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. --> (追記ここまで)
<li id="M201210020">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2012-10</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Some LG TVs <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190917164647/http://openlgtv.org.ru/wiki/index.php/Achievements">
are tyrants</a>.</p>
</li>
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. --> (追記ここまで)
<li id="M201205280">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2012-05</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>The Apple iThings are tyrant devices. There is a
port of Android to the iThings, but installing it requires <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150721065208/http://www.idroidproject.org/wiki/Status">
finding a bug or “exploit”</a> to make it possible to
install a different system.</p>
</li>
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. --> (追記ここまで)
<li id="M201110110">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2011-10</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p><a (削除) href="https://fsf.org/campaigns/secure-boot-vs-restricted-boot/"> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/secure-boot-vs-restricted-boot/"> (追記ここまで)
Mobile devices that come with Windows 8 are tyrants</a>.</p>
</li>
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-tyrants.html. --> (追記ここまで)
<li id="M201105070">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2011-05</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p><a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/sony">The Playstation
3 is a tyrant</a>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
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