Digital Fairness, Digital Tethering and Digital Feudalism

Abstract This editorial explores the growing phenomenon of digital tethering, the practice of making physical goods reliant on embedded software that grants manufacturers post-purchase control, and its legal implications in the EU. Existing EU legal instruments, such as the Consumer Rights Directive and the Digital Fairness Act, provide partial safeguards but leave regulatory gaps. It is argued that digital tethering risks evolving into a form of digital feudalism. A carefully designed legal framework is needed to ensure that technological progress does not compromise the fundamental rights of ownership and personal autonomy.