The Right to Repair Movement Moves Forward

The right to repair movement is very active and vocal and demanding that the government force companies to allow people to repair things that they buy. The question is whether you OWN those things that you buy. Manufacturers have been saying not really. You are kind of renting it.

There is no national “right to repair” law, so it is up to each state to decide. Some vendors, like Apple, have decided the PR is better at this point to let people fix their stuff, even in states without a right to repair law.

Colorado has a right to repair law that only covers farm equipment. And wheelchairs. Go figure.

New York has one, but it was watered down by lobbyists and excludes educational and business stuff.

Massachusetts has a right to repair law that only covers automobiles.

The most recent state to join the game is Minnesota. It goes into effect on July 1, 2024. It covers more stuff than the states above, but it excludes video game consoles, cars, medical devices, cybersecurity tools, farm equipment and construction equipment. Notice that the things covered in other states are the same things that are exempted in Minnesota.

For the vendors, it is all about money. Servicing these items generates a lot of money for the equipment makers and their retail stores. Margin wise, it is the most profitable thing that they do. Losing a monopoly is not something manufacturers are going to give up easily.

There will be more states and there will be fewer exemptions. Hopefully. You should be able to fix stuff yourself if you want to. In most states, that is still illegal if the manufacturer wants it to be that way.

Credit: Vice

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