I thought I bought a camera, but no DJI sold me a license to use it [video]

Legality, false advertising, and “selling a license”

• Many argue this is deceptive: the box markets a camera, but core functionality is gated behind mandatory registration, apps, Internet, and intrusive permissions not disclosed up front.
• Suggested legal hooks: false advertising, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, and “unfair contract terms” or fraud (in some jurisdictions).
• A few note that EULAs often include binding arbitration and “no class action / no court” clauses, making remedies hard even if the terms are dubious.

Markets vs regulation

• One camp says “the market works”: don’t buy such devices, return them as defective, make angry videos, and companies will adapt.
• Others counter that this requires consumers to be harmed first, then wage campaigns; they argue strong regulation and public enforcement are needed, not just individual lawsuits.
• There’s pushback against “regulation bad” rhetoric: laws and regulators are seen as defining the market and preventing a slide into “Mad Max.”

Mandatory apps, tracking, and IoT abuse

• Many examples: washing machines and dishwashers requiring tracking apps (GPS, Bluetooth, camera, constant location), shared-laundry apps with absurd permissions and poor UX, TVs phoning home and doing content recognition, smart cameras that cripple local storage unless you subscribe.
• Complaints that device makers hide “App + WiFi + Internet + account” requirements in fine print, effectively selling a revokable license, not a product.
• Some note similar behavior in pro gear (CNC machines with disabled hardware features unless “licensed”).

Subscriptions, “enshittification,” and techno‑feudalism

• Commenters see a pattern: hardware becomes a rental; features, storage, or “Pro” modes live behind recurring fees.
• This is framed as “enshittification” and “techno‑feudalism”: ownership, privacy, and autonomy erode while surveillance and lock‑in increase.

Coping strategies and their limits

• Tactics: disposable emails, VPNs, firewalls to block app traffic, buying older or commercial/“dumb” models, rooting TVs, or boycotting brands like DJI/Xiaomi when possible.
• Many say “vote with your wallet” is insufficient: products can be changed post‑purchase via updates, alternatives are scarce (e.g., phones), and returns are costly or impractical.
• Several call for collective action: easier small-claims processes, class actions, stronger consumer agencies, and laws banning mandatory accounts for basic device function.