[ohyeshedid]

> Should they be doing that for free? Serious question.

If they don't provide the network: what value do the tags, you bought with money, provide?

[dwighttk]

If you buy from Apple they do provide the network.

If you buy from 3rd party and 3rd party doesn’t pay Apple, why should Apple provide the network?

[ohyeshedid]

I wasn't saying they should; and I'm not taking a side on anything. I don't have enough information to properly answer you.

Are there third party tracking device manufacturers with free access to these systems?

Are you talking about stolen or bootleg goods?

The latter is a much more complicated topic, for sure.

[dylan604]

The question as asked seems pretty clear to me. If Company A builds a product/service, why should Company B be expected to utilize Company A's work without compensation?

What more information do you need?

[ohyeshedid]

The questions, as asked, are lacking in tangible reality dynamics and are phrased with bias.

My first response to the first version of that loaded question: "_I wasn't saying they should_..."

You respond with: "If Company A builds a product/service, why should Company B be expected to utilize Company A's work without compensation?"

Am I to believe you're being genuine here? Should I really repeat myself again, in text, to save you a scroll up?

I didn't say that. I never implied that. I stated the exact opposite.

Why are you asking me to rationalize and explain a stance I've never taken, and don't have?

[kaladin-jasnah]

An earlier commenter likened AirTags to DNS. Is DNS a for-profit protocol? Does it need to be?

[dwighttk]

I don’t think DNS is, but AirTags is… so maybe they aren’t…likenable? likencompatible? Licompatible?

[eternityforest]

They shouldn't be doing it for free, someone else should have an open tracking service.

[dylan604]

And how is that going to be funded?

[eternityforest]

Donations and hardware sales.