Editing Wemo discontinuation of service (section)

==Consumer protection and regulatory response==
The incident shows the gaps in consumer protection frameworks for software-dependent devices. Current warranty laws assume hardware failure rather than service termination, creating uncertainty about whether cloud service shutdowns count as defective products.

Consumer advocacy organizations, led by Consumer Reports, have mobilized against IoT device abandonment practices, coining the term ''"software tethering"'' to describe manufacturer control over post-purchase device functionality.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-13 |title=Consumer Reports, U.S. PIRG, and 15 other groups call on FTC to create clear guidance for ‘software tethering’ |url=https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/research/group-letter-ftc-software-tethering/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Consumer Reports Advocacy}}</ref> The coalition has petitioned the FTC to address these practices and establish mandatory disclosure requirements for device support timelines.