You Don’t Own Anything Anymore: The Subscription Trap & Digital Handcuffs
The Death of Ownership
Glenn Harvey
Remember when buying something meant you actually owned it? Software, music, and even printers used to be one-time purchases. Now, everything comes with a monthly fee. Instead of selling products outright, companies are shifting to a model where you pay forever while they retain control.
Take Adobe, for example. In 2012, you could buy Photoshop outright for around $700. Today, Adobe Creative Cloud costs $22.99 per month—which means if you've been subscribed since then, you've already spent over $2,600 and still don’t own anything. The same model is creeping into other industries, from streaming services to essential tech features, forcing consumers into a never-ending payment cycle.
How We Got Here:
Big tech companies quickly realized that one-time purchases weren’t as profitable as ongoing revenue streams. Instead of selling products, they now lease them under the illusion of accessibility and convenience.
Software - Microsoft Office became Office 365, locking essential tools behind a paywall.
Movies & Music - If a movie leaves Netflix or a song gets pulled from Spotify, you lose access instantly.
Cars - BMW infamously attempted to charge $18/month for heated seats. Tesla has also introduced software paywalls for features like faster acceleration.
Printers - HP's "Instant Ink" subscription locks you into their service, and if you cancel, your printer may stop working properly.
This shift ensures companies keep you on the hook indefinitely, draining more money from consumers while reducing control over what they purchase.
The Subscription Creep: How It’s Getting Worse
At first, subscriptions seemed reasonable. Paying monthly for Netflix or Spotify offered a new level of convenience. But as more companies jumped on board, the line between ownership and renting blurred.
A 2023 survey by C+R Research found that the average American spends $219 per month on subscriptions, often without realizing it. Digital services now dominate everything from entertainment to productivity tools, and it’s becoming harder to find alternatives that don’t require a recurring fee.
Even Apple is rumored to be moving toward an iPhone-as-a-service model, where instead of buying a phone outright, users would subscribe to continuous upgrades. Meanwhile, gaming companies like Ubisoft and Nintendo have shut down digital storefronts, erasing access to purchased games. Consumers are being trained to accept temporary access as the norm rather than permanent ownership.
Why This is Bad for Consumers
The growing reliance on subscription models has real consequences:
Higher long-term costs – Subscriptions often seem affordable month-to-month but add up significantly over time.
Loss of access – If a company shuts down a service, you lose everything you paid for. Google Stadia, for example, left gamers with nothing when it was discontinued.
Lack of control – Digital rights management (DRM) means you don’t own what you buy. Amazon has removed purchased Kindle books from users’ libraries without warning.
Planned obsolescence – Companies like Apple and John Deere restrict repairs to force users into costly replacements instead of maintaining their devices.
Digital Rights Are Disappearing
Ownership isn’t just fading—it’s being actively erased. Buying a movie on Amazon Prime doesn’t mean you own it. Amazon has revoked access to digital purchases when licensing agreements change.
Similarly, streaming services constantly remove content. In 2023, HBO Max pulled over 40 titles—including exclusive originals—without warning. Consumers paid for access, only for the content to be erased.
Gaming is no better. Nintendo shut down its 3DS and Wii U eShops, meaning thousands of digital games are now lost forever. Ubisoft has deactivated purchased games, preventing players from accessing them even after paying full price. If a company decides you no longer have access, there’s nothing you can do.
What Can We Do About It?
While companies push for a rental-based economy, consumers still have some power to fight back:
Support Companies That Let You Own Your Stuff
Opt for one-time purchase software like Affinity Photo instead of Adobe.
Buy physical media—Blu-rays, vinyl, and CDs still give you permanent access to your content.
Push for Right-to-Repair Laws
Many manufacturers make devices harder to fix to force upgrades. Right-to-repair legislation helps consumers keep their products longer and maintain control.
Use Open-Source & Independent Alternatives
Instead of Google Docs, try LibreOffice or OnlyOffice.
Instead of Spotify, buy music directly from artists on Bandcamp.
Call Out Companies Normalizing This
Public backlash stopped BMW from continuing its heated seat subscription.
Complaints forced Adobe to offer some non-subscription Photoshop options.