Haier threatens legal action over open source appliance control plugin

Haier claims the plugin is causing ‘significant economic harm’

A popular open-source plugin and library allowing users to control Haier, Candy and Hoover appliances has been hit with takedown requests from Haier Europe's security and governance department, according to a report in The Register.

The repositories, managed by Andre Basche, include a Python library for managing appliances, like smart washing machines and an integration plugin for the Home Assistant app.

The plugin, covering a range of appliances from air conditioners to wine cellars, is not an official Haier product. The library's repository makes it clear that it's an unofficial development and not endorsed by Haier. However, the company claims the plugin is causing "significant economic harm" due to unauthorised use of its services.

The takedown notices have sparked discussions around the legality of such actions, with some questioning the validity of Haier's claims. While reverse engineering is a complex legal area, previous court decisions have generally allowed it, especially when used for decoding interfaces. The European Union strongly supports interoperability, making it risky for companies to impose barriers.

According to the takedown notices, Haier's main concern is the increased frequency of the plugin's requests to access its services, leading to higher costs. The Haier IoT and Home Assistant functionality are built in the AWS cloud. Basche shared an email in which Haier Europe's Head of Brand and IoT explained that the "substantial increase in AWS calls" triggered its action.

The plugin sends a request every five seconds to retrieve the current state of each appliance, with additional data posted when a user triggers an action. Basche acknowledges the frequency may be high and is willing to adjust it as per Haier's recommendations.

Despite an initial lack of response from Haier, an email sent to Basche over the weekend indicates a potential softening of the company's stance. Haier expressed its commitment to improving the Home Assistance app's performance and reliability while emphasising user privacy. The company also mentioned its eagerness to explore opportunities for expanding its ecosystem and integrating IoT platforms.

The situation raises questions about the balance between open-source development and protecting a company's economic interests. Developers and legal experts will be closely watching how this unfolds, considering the broader implications for open-source projects and interoperability efforts.