Requiring a license to use a standard storage medium is just another barrier preventing new competitors from entering the market. While I fully support the US trying to disentangle itself from technological dependence on China, these kind of licensing agreements cannot die soon enough, and should be banned as anti-competitive.
This article is just plain stupid.<p>At this point Huawei can do whatever they want, including using microsd but not paying any patent and licensing fees. SD association cannot do anything to stop Huawei now that US already has played it's strongest hand.<p>Huawei has no market presence in US. Outside US you can not sue them because "your honor we wanted to pay them the fees but their government blocked it"
I haven't really been following the Huawei story too much, but I find it ironic they are handing them out as part of what people call the "Obama Phone" program. Looks like May 2018 [1] they were banned from using gov funds on Huawei. Someone I know in the middle of a divorce who recently got one around December. She was asking me for help with hers since I'm a tech geek. It's just basically a cheap Android Phone.<p>Maybe they just have a bunch on hand they plan to get rid of and then find a new supplier but might depend on the county levels too... Not too sure how that works, just find it odd the gov themself are giving out a phone they are banned from buying.<p>[1] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Service_Fund#Concerns_about_2018_changes" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Service_Fund#Concern...</a><p>Edited: Oh looks like the concern is spying...<p>Makes me wonder though... Many American phones like the iPhone is made in China too, why don't they ban chinese made iPhone's too then, what stops the factory from slipping something in those products?<p>Also looks like Android updates and Google Play might quit working too at some point... Be interesting if Google could release something to turn those existing phones into a "Pure Google" type of experience.<p>It seems like having all these unpatched and no longer supported Android phones in itself seems like a security risk.
Can we stop posting those FUD, rubbish articles?<p>How does not being a member of the SD association prevents companies from using microSD cards?<p>From the SD Association's website:<p>> SD Association does not manufacture, market or sell any product; it creates standards and then promotes the adoption, advancement and use of SD standards used by competing product manufacturers that make interoperable memory cards and devices.