FULU Foundation says the problem isn’t convenience. It’s control.
In its latest newsletter, the group frames its hardware bounties as a direct response to Section 1201 of the DMCA — the law that makes it illegal to bypass digital locks, even on devices you own. They’ve paid out for firmware work on exercise bikes, smart hubs, thermostats. Now they’re searching for someone who can modify a Ring Video Doorbell so it no longer depends on Amazon’s cloud.The argument isn’t about piracy. It’s about ownership. If you bought the hardware, they argue, you should control how it works.What’s new is the tactic. Instead of waiting for courts or regulators, FULU is funding circumvention first and lobbying Congress second.