Adversarial Interoperability

So much of what technology does for us is only possible thanks to the concept of “adversarial interoperability”. It’s a weird concept with a simple premise: It’s a system that is wide open enough that other organizations and individuals can use it without permission (via “ The Song of Significance “).

The EFF explains it further:

For a really competitive, innovative, dynamic marketplace, you need adversarial interoperability: that’s when you create a new product or service that plugs into the existing ones without the permission of the companies that make them. Think of third-party printer ink, alternative app stores, or independent repair shops that use compatible parts from rival manufacturers to fix your car or your phone or your tractor.

They gave some great examples, but there are simple ones in our lives that we take for granted:

• Your dishwasher works with any dishes.
• You can plug any device into your wall outlet.
• Anyone can give you food that can be heated by your microwave.

In most cases, adversarial interoperability is impossible to avoid. I guess you could build a dishwasher that only works with certain dishes, but that would be really weird.