Here's the solution. Stop using Arduino. That's how people power work. Then a new open alternative will pop up, and people can start using that. Ones desire to create and build, should never belong to only one brand - but a universal brand - whenever possible.

Qualcomm has quietly made some massive changes to Arduino's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, marking a clear departure from the platform's founding principles.

According to Adafruit, the new policies introduce sweeping user-license provisions, broaden data collection (particularly around AI usage), and embed long-term account data retention, all while integrating user information into Qualcomm’s broader data ecosystem.

Section 7.1 grants Arduino a perpetual, irrevocable license over anything you upload. Your code, projects, forum posts, and comments all fall under this. This remains in effect even after you delete your account. Arduino retains rights to your content indefinitely.

The license is also royalty-free and sublicensable. Arduino can use your content however they want, distribute it, modify it, and even sublicense it to others.

The terms further state that users are not allowed to reverse engineer or attempt to understand how the platform works unless Arduino gives permission. Adafruit argues that this contradicts the values that made Arduino attractive to educators, researchers, and hobbyists.

The Privacy Policy states Arduino is wholly owned by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. User data, including from minors, flows to other Qualcomm Group companies.

Stupid question.

Does this apply to what you write and upload on the Arduino IDE to your boards? Or just whatever you publish on their website/ cloud?

It's time for micropython.

https://micropython.org/

"Hello, this brand of tools that was specifically made for people to learn about? Yes, you're no longer allowed to attempt to understand how they work."

First it was Raspberry Pi now Arduino. Is ESP32 all that’s left?

Whooooa, I had no idea Arduino sold out. I thought this was about RaspberryPi for some reason at first, but this is even worse.

The enshitifcaiton was guaranteed the second the ink touched that paper.

Beagle boards are looking better - What other alternatives are recommended?
Edit: sorry, I was thinking of SBC's. Blue pills & ESP are good hardware, the libraries & toolchain Im not so sure about.

Boycott time. Fuck these pricks and their money.

I'm glad I still have shitloads of ESP8266s kicking around.

Which ESP32 boards do folks recommend lately? Too many options.

Please tell me ESP32 with python is still a good option or did they get bought out too?

Thankfully, this doesn't seem to apply to code written outside of the Arduino ecosystem, so i ASSUME that if you're writing code for a cloned board using PlatformIO that these new terms don't apply to you

If that's not the case, I'll switch to micropython (probably easier anyway)

I wonder how these terms compare to those of the Raspberry Pi Pico series.

Are RISCV microcontrollers out yet? Might be a good idea to rally around making a fully open IDE ecosystem and breakout board standard for it (maybe even make it pin compatible with the old school Arduino, surely they can't sue for that right?)