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discourse: why do corporations allow "jailbreaking" and "flashing" at all?

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Chronon:
cowonoid: You make a lot of assumptions that I have trouble making for myself.  If I buy a hammer, I do not suppose that the manufacturer can tell me how to use it nor for what purpose.  Some sort of firmware is necessary for the basic operation of a DAP.  This in no way implies to me that I am forbidden from using the device in a way of my choosing.  You seem to operate under an assumption of "that which is not expressly permitted is forbidden" while I would prefer to assume "that which is not expressly forbidden is permitted."

Manufacturers are free to take steps to secure devices that they sell, but users are also free to find creative new ways to use the devices that they own.

soap:
If this conversation drifts much deeper into Casio watch-wearing, dog shooting Einstein analogies I'm locking it.  ;)

Confuseling:

--- Quote from: Chronon on August 14, 2010, 02:03:27 AM ---cowonoid: You make a lot of assumptions that I have troubling making for myself.  If I buy a hammer, I do not suppose that the manufacturer can tell me how to use it nor for what purpose.  Some sort of firmware is necessary for the basic operation of a DAP.  This in no way implies to me that I am forbidden from using the device in a way of my choosing.  You seem to operate under an assumption of "that which is not expressly permitted is forbidden" while I would prefer to assume "that which is not expressly forbidden is permitted."

Manufacturers are free to take steps to secure devices that they sell, but users are also free to find creative new ways to use the devices that they own.

--- End quote ---

Well put. It's a legal principle in liberal democracy, the 'jus utendi et abutendi', or the right to use and abuse your own property. There are certain limits, obviously - they might well be justified in making it illegal to modify a radio so you can transmit on police frequencies, for example. But the presumption falls on the side of the right of the owner, not the originator or the authorities. Changing the firmware on an mp3 player shouldn't normally be considered a problem... (although no doubt some have tried to specifically outlaw that, arguing from a DRM point of view, the link from a cursory reading sounds like it's just that firmware has been granted an exemption from wider legislation).

As to the original question, it might be sometimes in part that they have a free advertising and R&D service. As long as modding is sufficiently difficult that people aren't going to enter into it en masse without a clue what they're doing, break stuff, and then demand a warranty repair, the company has a large community of motivated hackers trying to figure out interesting new things they can do with the device. They tend to be early adopters, tech savvy, and able to create a buzz in the online community. They directly increase sales, but they also find interesting new solutions to problems, which the company can then incorporate into newer versions of their code - either legally by rewriting it, or illegally by pinching it, and hoping nobody notices.

Obviously this doesn't really apply as directly to Rockbox, because it's a completely separate codebase - but I suspect it plays a part in the general tolerance some manufacturers seem to show to hackers.

soap:
VERY well said, Confuseling. 
IMHO case closed.

Confuseling:
Thanks.  :)

Another point, I suppose, is that 'hackers vs. Cowon' is probably less of a zero-sum game than 'Cowon vs. Apple'. As far as Cowon are concerned, hackers coming up with a better OS may make them look a tad incompetent or disinterested, but that might be balanced by the greater desirability it gives their hardware over their competitors'.

People removing their software doesn't directly affect their bottom line... People buying their hardware to put different software on it does.


ETA-

Apple is obviously a special case here, because they want to sell applications. It will be interesting to see what security measures they come up with when there is a viable alternative operating system for their phones and tablets - and I presume it's only a matter of time.

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