Innovation is the driver of tech obsolescence
Becher & Sibony, 21 – [Becher is a professor at Victoria University of Wellington, LL.M., J.S.D., LL.B.][Sibony is a Professor of EU Law at the University of Louvain, Master’s, PhD, on the judicial use of economic] (Shmuel I., Anne-Lise, “Confronting product obsolescence”, Columbia Journal of European Law, 27(2), 97-151. HeinOnline, https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/coljeul27&i=109.) // LP
Technological obsolescence occurs when a product becomes outdated due to technological innovation. Technological obsolescence makes an otherwise working product undesired. It generally occurs when technology brings about a new product that can replace the previous version of the product, and which consumers typically view as superior. Consider, for instance, an audio cassette player, an icebox, gas lights, an analog TV, a video cassette player, or a typewriter. The near-constant progression of technology has made these (and many other) products obsolete. However, note the fundamental difference between this type of obsolescence and the previous ones. In contrast to the foregoing forms, technological obsolescence does not require any ill intention, planning, or malice to be a priori attributed to the producer. Obsolescence here is but a consequence of technological progress.