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Axis locks out certain useful features in their IP cameras unless you install an Axis-branded SD card.

Since Axis doesn't actually manufacture SD cards, they are obviously rebranded high-endurance cards from one of the major fabs (possibly with some minor firmware parameter tweaks). Except, they cost twice as much and aren't as generally available.

Would this law have any bearing on that business practice?



Interesting. I know at work we use a lot of Axis cameras, but I don't know if we use those features (which ones?) or whether we bought their SD cards.


Without the Axis-branded SD card, they axe or deteriorate access to the cameras from mobile devices.

Namely, you cannot add the camera to a site for access from Camera Station Edge. This applies to both the desktop and mobile flavors of the software.

On the desktop version of Edge, there's a little-known hack you can make to a config file to override the behavior. But this means you need to drag a computer to the physical site for the initial provisioning.

There is no such override available on the mobile app.

(Also depending exactly how you provision, the Storage, Motion Detection and Continuous Recording toggles will be disabled when viewing the device in Edge).

It's a weird place to gatekeep, and reeks of pure sales / marketing driven impetus.




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