Petition · Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade

Ban hardware manufacturers from monopolising storefronts & limit media ownership

Open for signatures 19 signatures

What the petition asks

Require hardware manufacturers to allow third-party digital storefronts and open media distribution on their devices. Update consumer law to introduce the right to resell digital media, and ban platforms from selling revocable licenses as ownership.
Hardware manufacturers often restrict all digital media sales to their own marketplaces. In our view, this gives manufacturers full control over sales, ownership and the sources of digital media. Customers can often not resell digital media after use, with licenses for media being presented and sold as ownership while reserving the rights to revoke access to the content from the customer. We believe that forcing open media distribution routes will increase competition and revive the industry of small/independent artists.

Timeline

26 Aug 2026 Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 19
Status Open for signatures
Department Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
Opened 26 Aug 2026

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 27 Aug 2026.