The campaign for the right to repair electronic devices and machinery is gaining momentum worldwide, with new rules in the UK and plans in the EU and US. The UK has introduced legislation requiring manufacturers to make spare parts available for electrical appliances, while the European Commission has announced intentions to apply similar rules to smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
In the United States, President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order directing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to draft regulations on the repair of farming equipment. This would allow farmers to repair their own machinery, a move welcomed by advocates. However, tractor maker John Deere has opposed the idea, citing safety risks.
Technology giants including Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft have also resisted the movement, arguing that independent repairs could compromise device security and safety. Most US states proposed right-to-repair bills in 2021, but only Massachusetts has enacted such a law, focused on vehicles. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing General Motors and Fiat Chrysler, has legally challenged expanded access to repair data, claiming cybersecurity risks.
IP concerns have been largely dismissed by the FTC, which concluded that intellectual property rights are not a significant barrier to independent repair. Safety remains a common objection, with manufacturers warning of potential injuries from improper fixes. In New York, the Fair Repair Act passed the state senate and awaits assembly approval, potentially becoming law in 2022 if signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Advocates like iFixit founder Kyle Wiens expect the FTC's intervention to accelerate progress. 'Access to the knowledge of how to repair things is a fundamental human right,' he said, though he acknowledged that well-funded opposition often stalls legislation.
