Enforcement process for correction of hardware and software defects

Abstract

A method and apparatus for improvement of computer-related products to solve problems caused by artificially embedded locks, barriers, defects, and the like, that force a consumer to needlessly upgrade hardware or software on a computer. An independent developer may procure access to a product, develop a testing regimen for functionality of the product, and perform evaluations to identify sources of any operational defects found. Accordingly, the developer may then provide a generalized testing regimen to test instances of product provided by a supplier, identify those containing the flaw, and may optionally provide a solution to the flaw, where practicable. The independent developer may obtain intellectual property rights in the testing, solution or both for the product. Thus, by notifying a supplier, an independent developer may become a supplier of testing or solution systems, motivating a supplier by one of several mechanisms. The developer may obtain a legal status with respect to the supplier by becoming a customer or user, in order to provide motivation to a recalcitrant supplier not designed to take responsibility for defects known and continued in marketed products.

1 . A method for enforcing the correction of computer hardware and software defects, the method comprising:
 selecting, by a supplier, objectives effective to achieve a selected business goal;   selecting, by the supplier, a synthetic stimulus technique to achieve the selected business goal, the synthetic stimulus technique artificially forcing obsolescence of at least one of computer hardware and computer software;   implementing the synthetic stimulus by embedding a synthetic defect in the at least one of computer hardware and computer;   disabling the synthetic stimulus by curing the embedded defect in response to at least one of a private disclosure and a public disclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected business goal is selected from the group consisting of a goal to increase sales, increase profit, increase profit margin, increase new unit demand, increase upgrade demand, increase upgrade frequency, increase the price per unit, decrease development investment, and cripple competitors. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic stimulus technique is selected from the group consisting of implementing artificial locks in at least one of hardware and software, locking out selected versions of at least one of hardware and software, collaboratively working with a supplier of a complementary product to artificially force obsolescence of one another's products, redacting user manual information, and withholding computer instructions. 
     
     
         4 . A method for enforcing the correction of computer hardware and software defects, the method comprising:
 identifying from a supplier, a product having an embedded defect causing the product to artificially reject operation with a class of associated products for interacting therewith;   discovering the existence of the embedded defect;   obtaining, by at least one of a consumer of the product and an independent third party, a solution effective to cure the embedded defect.   requesting that the supplier repair the product by enabling operation of the product with the class.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising entering into an agreement, with the supplier, to repair the product. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising enforcing the terms of the agreement.