Right to repair: Difference between revisions

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'''[[wikipedia:Right_to_repair#cite_note-:3-10|Right to repair]]''' is a legal right for owners of devices and equipment to freely modify and repair products such as automobiles, electronics, and farm equipment. Right to repair may also refer to the social movement of citizens putting pressure on their governments to enact laws protecting a right to repair.

There are several forces that result in interference with a right to repair, some intentional and some incidental~~. The Consumer Action Taskforce generally focuses on practices that are intentional~~. The motivations for interference in a right to repair are sometimes but not limited to direct financial benefit or market control.

There are several forces that result in interference with a right to repair, some intentional and some incidental. The motivations for interference in a right to repair are sometimes but not limited to direct financial benefit or market control.

==Key principles==

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#'''Agricultural equipment:''' Farmers face significant challenges due to restrictive practices by manufacturers like [[John Deere]], which locks vital repair tools and software behind proprietary systems. While John Deere previously agreed to provide access to repair tools by 2021, it has largely failed to uphold this promise, forcing many farmers to turn to unauthorized software just to perform basic repairs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Sarah |date=14 Feb 2014 |title=Right to Repair Farm Equipment: Legislation, Challenges, and Advantages |url=https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/right-to-repair-farm-equipment/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2014 |website=Thomas}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Reilly |first=Kevin |date=5 Feb 2021 |title=Deere in the Headlights How software that farmers can't access has become necessary to tractor repair |url=https://pirg.org/resources/deere-in-the-headlights-3/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=pirg.org}}</ref> Industry groups argue that allowing such access could bypass emissions and safety controls, but this leaves farmers financially dependent on dealers for critical repairs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hruska |first=Joel |date=23 Feb 2021 |title=John Deere Fails to Uphold Right to Repair Agreement Signed in 2018 |url=https://www.extremetech.com/electronics/320183-john-deere-fails-to-uphold-right-to-repair-agreement-signed-in-2018 |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Extreme Tech}}</ref>

#'''Consumer electronics:''' Companies are implementing restrictive measures, like serialization and pairing of parts, which prevent the use of third-party components.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 Nov 2021 |title=Manufacturers Are Restricting Your Repair Options. Here’s How. |url=https://www.carrepairchoice.org/manufacturers-are-restricting-your-repair-options-heres-how/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Car Repair Choice}}</ref> This practice raises repair costs and limits options for consumers, reinforcing a disposable culture in electronics.

#'''Medical equipment:''' Hospitals and healthcare providers encounter repair restrictions that delay the maintenance of critical devices. Limited access to diagnostics and proprietary parts exacerbates costs and impacts patient care, with some hospital technicians calling for legislative action to improve repairability.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wray |first=George |last2=Vanderveer |first2=Erin |date=18 Apr 2024 |title=Fixing Circles: The Right to Repair and the Circular Economy |url=https://www.americanbar.org/groups/tort_trial_insurance_practice/resources/journal/2024-spring/fixing-circles-right-repair-circular-economy/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=American Bar}}</ref>

#[[Medical equipment|'''Medical equipment''']]''':''' Hospitals and healthcare providers encounter repair restrictions that delay the maintenance of critical devices. Limited access to diagnostics and proprietary parts exacerbates costs and impacts patient care, with some hospital technicians calling for legislative action to improve repairability.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wray |first=George |last2=Vanderveer |first2=Erin |date=18 Apr 2024 |title=Fixing Circles: The Right to Repair and the Circular Economy |url=https://www.americanbar.org/groups/tort_trial_insurance_practice/resources/journal/2024-spring/fixing-circles-right-repair-circular-economy/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=American Bar}}</ref>

#'''Home appliances:''' Many household devices, such as refrigerators and washing machines, are increasingly difficult to repair because of proprietary parts and software locks. Advocates argue that this trend contributes to unnecessary e-waste and financial strain on households.{{CitationNeeded}}

#'''Automobiles:''' The automotive industry has historically restricted repairs by limiting access to diagnostic tools and proprietary systems. Massachusetts’ Right to Repair law has been a key legislative victory, enabling consumers and independent mechanics to access the tools needed for vehicle repairs.{{CitationNeeded}}

#'''Millitary''':

==Anti-repair practices==

Practices by companies and organizations that result in interference with right to repair often have other stated goals than to interfere with repair, or argue the importance of that goal ~~supercedes~~ any repair considerations that may be interfered with. Common stated goals used in the examples of this wiki are for security, to make warranty possible, to indemnify, safety, compliance with other regulation, or quality control. Right to repair advocacy seeks to challenge the validity of the stated goals, both on its merit and on its truthfulness as the motivation for the practice, due to the resulting interference with a consumer's right to repair. These goals are argued to be a mask for other outcomes that are meant to benefit that organization in other ways, often for financial benefit by limiting access to repair resources that result in higher costs to the consumer and fewer choices in repair options.

Practices by companies and organizations that result in interference with right to repair often have other stated goals than to interfere with repair, or argue the importance of that goal supersedes any repair considerations that may be interfered with. Common stated goals used in the examples of this wiki are for security, to make warranty possible, to indemnify, safety, compliance with other regulation, or quality control. Right to repair advocacy seeks to challenge the validity of the stated goals, both on its merit and on its truthfulness as the motivation for the practice, due to the resulting interference with a consumer's right to repair. These goals are argued to be a mask for other outcomes that are meant to benefit that organization in other ways, often for financial benefit by limiting access to repair resources that result in higher costs to the consumer and fewer choices in repair options.

===Parts===

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In the case of a company making their own unique part number, this causes the part to be exclusively offered to the company that 'created' it and unavailable for 3rd-party repairs. This now makes the company the exclusive repairer of the device and they can charge whatever they want, or the device is unrepairable since the company doesn't repair that device and the part can't be readily sourced.

In the case of parts that aren't used in other devices, this can cause repair prices to shoot up, since there isn't an incentive for repair shops to have this part readily available. Using phones as an example, Phone A and Phone B are both from the same manufacturer, and are physically indistinguishable. However, on the inside Phone A uses a completely different screen connection than Phone B, and Phone B has a completely different battery shape than Phone A. The parts are no longer interchangeable between the phones, and more parts need to be stocked as a result. As well, the repair shop takes a risk on keeping a stock of parts that may or may not sell because they are exclusive to a certain phone. This can also lead to people not wanting to have their phone repaired, since they will be without their phone for a week or two while the shop waits for a part to ship.

In the case of parts that aren't used in other devices, this can cause repair prices to shoot up, since there isn't an incentive for repair shops to have this part readily available. Using phones as an example, Phone A and Phone B are both from the same manufacturer, and are physically indistinguishable. However, on the inside Phone A uses a completely different screen connection than Phone B, and Phone B has a completely different battery shape than Phone A. The parts are no longer [[Interchangeable parts|interchangeable]] between the phones, and more parts need to be stocked as a result. As well, the repair shop takes a risk on keeping a stock of parts that may or may not sell because they are exclusive to a certain phone. This can also lead to people not wanting to have their phone repaired, since they will be without their phone for a week or two while the shop waits for a part to ship.

====Designing unrepairable products<ref>{{Cite web |title=Designing Unrepairable Products |url=https://www.repair.org/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=repair.org}}</ref>====

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-{{StubNotice}}
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 '''[[wikipedia:Right_to_repair#cite_note-:3-10|Right to repair]]''' is a legal right for owners of devices and equipment to freely modify and repair products such as automobiles, electronics, and farm equipment. Right to repair may also refer to the social movement of citizens putting pressure on their governments to enact laws protecting a right to repair.
-There are several forces that result in interference with a right to repair, some intentional and some incidental. The Consumer Action Taskforce generally focuses on practices that are intentional. The motivations for interference in a right to repair are sometimes but not limited to direct financial benefit or market control.
+There are several forces that result in interference with a right to repair, some intentional and some incidental. The motivations for interference in a right to repair are sometimes but not limited to direct financial benefit or market control.
 ==Key principles==
@@ Line 23: / Line 21: @@
 #'''Agricultural equipment:''' Farmers face significant challenges due to restrictive practices by manufacturers like [[John Deere]], which locks vital repair tools and software behind proprietary systems. While John Deere previously agreed to provide access to repair tools by 2021, it has largely failed to uphold this promise, forcing many farmers to turn to unauthorized software just to perform basic repairs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Sarah |date=14 Feb 2014 |title=Right to Repair Farm Equipment: Legislation, Challenges, and Advantages |url=https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/right-to-repair-farm-equipment/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2014 |website=Thomas}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Reilly |first=Kevin |date=5 Feb 2021 |title=Deere in the Headlights How software that farmers can't access has become necessary to tractor repair |url=https://pirg.org/resources/deere-in-the-headlights-3/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=pirg.org}}</ref> Industry groups argue that allowing such access could bypass emissions and safety controls, but this leaves farmers financially dependent on dealers for critical repairs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hruska |first=Joel |date=23 Feb 2021 |title=John Deere Fails to Uphold Right to Repair Agreement Signed in 2018 |url=https://www.extremetech.com/electronics/320183-john-deere-fails-to-uphold-right-to-repair-agreement-signed-in-2018 |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Extreme Tech}}</ref>
 #'''Consumer electronics:''' Companies are implementing restrictive measures, like serialization and pairing of parts, which prevent the use of third-party components.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 Nov 2021 |title=Manufacturers Are Restricting Your Repair Options. Here’s How. |url=https://www.carrepairchoice.org/manufacturers-are-restricting-your-repair-options-heres-how/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Car Repair Choice}}</ref> This practice raises repair costs and limits options for consumers, reinforcing a disposable culture in electronics.
-#'''Medical equipment:''' Hospitals and healthcare providers encounter repair restrictions that delay the maintenance of critical devices. Limited access to diagnostics and proprietary parts exacerbates costs and impacts patient care, with some hospital technicians calling for legislative action to improve repairability.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wray |first=George |last2=Vanderveer |first2=Erin |date=18 Apr 2024 |title=Fixing Circles: The Right to Repair and the Circular Economy |url=https://www.americanbar.org/groups/tort_trial_insurance_practice/resources/journal/2024-spring/fixing-circles-right-repair-circular-economy/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=American Bar}}</ref>
+#[[Medical equipment|'''Medical equipment''']]''':''' Hospitals and healthcare providers encounter repair restrictions that delay the maintenance of critical devices. Limited access to diagnostics and proprietary parts exacerbates costs and impacts patient care, with some hospital technicians calling for legislative action to improve repairability.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wray |first=George |last2=Vanderveer |first2=Erin |date=18 Apr 2024 |title=Fixing Circles: The Right to Repair and the Circular Economy |url=https://www.americanbar.org/groups/tort_trial_insurance_practice/resources/journal/2024-spring/fixing-circles-right-repair-circular-economy/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=American Bar}}</ref>
 #'''Home appliances:''' Many household devices, such as refrigerators and washing machines, are increasingly difficult to repair because of proprietary parts and software locks. Advocates argue that this trend contributes to unnecessary e-waste and financial strain on households.{{CitationNeeded}}
 #'''Automobiles:''' The automotive industry has historically restricted repairs by limiting access to diagnostic tools and proprietary systems. Massachusetts’ Right to Repair law has been a key legislative victory, enabling consumers and independent mechanics to access the tools needed for vehicle repairs.{{CitationNeeded}}
+#'''Millitary''':
 ==Anti-repair practices==
-Practices by companies and organizations that result in interference with right to repair often have other stated goals than to interfere with repair, or argue the importance of that goal supercedes any repair considerations that may be interfered with. Common stated goals used in the examples of this wiki are for security, to make warranty possible, to indemnify, safety, compliance with other regulation, or quality control. Right to repair advocacy seeks to challenge the validity of the stated goals, both on its merit and on its truthfulness as the motivation for the practice, due to the resulting interference with a consumer's right to repair. These goals are argued to be a mask for other outcomes that are meant to benefit that organization in other ways, often for financial benefit by limiting access to repair resources that result in higher costs to the consumer and fewer choices in repair options.
+Practices by companies and organizations that result in interference with right to repair often have other stated goals than to interfere with repair, or argue the importance of that goal supersedes any repair considerations that may be interfered with. Common stated goals used in the examples of this wiki are for security, to make warranty possible, to indemnify, safety, compliance with other regulation, or quality control. Right to repair advocacy seeks to challenge the validity of the stated goals, both on its merit and on its truthfulness as the motivation for the practice, due to the resulting interference with a consumer's right to repair. These goals are argued to be a mask for other outcomes that are meant to benefit that organization in other ways, often for financial benefit by limiting access to repair resources that result in higher costs to the consumer and fewer choices in repair options.
 ===Parts===
@@ Line 53: / Line 52: @@
 In the case of a company making their own unique part number, this causes the part to be exclusively offered to the company that 'created' it and unavailable for 3rd-party repairs. This now makes the company the exclusive repairer of the device and they can charge whatever they want, or the device is unrepairable since the company doesn't repair that device and the part can't be readily sourced.
-In the case of parts that aren't used in other devices, this can cause repair prices to shoot up, since there isn't an incentive for repair shops to have this part readily available. Using phones as an example, Phone A and Phone B are both from the same manufacturer, and are physically indistinguishable. However, on the inside Phone A uses a completely different screen connection than Phone B, and Phone B has a completely different battery shape than Phone A. The parts are no longer interchangeable between the phones, and more parts need to be stocked as a result. As well, the repair shop takes a risk on keeping a stock of parts that may or may not sell because they are exclusive to a certain phone. This can also lead to people not wanting to have their phone repaired, since they will be without their phone for a week or two while the shop waits for a part to ship.
+In the case of parts that aren't used in other devices, this can cause repair prices to shoot up, since there isn't an incentive for repair shops to have this part readily available. Using phones as an example, Phone A and Phone B are both from the same manufacturer, and are physically indistinguishable. However, on the inside Phone A uses a completely different screen connection than Phone B, and Phone B has a completely different battery shape than Phone A. The parts are no longer [[Interchangeable parts|interchangeable]] between the phones, and more parts need to be stocked as a result. As well, the repair shop takes a risk on keeping a stock of parts that may or may not sell because they are exclusive to a certain phone. This can also lead to people not wanting to have their phone repaired, since they will be without their phone for a week or two while the shop waits for a part to ship.
 ====Designing unrepairable products<ref>{{Cite web |title=Designing Unrepairable Products |url=https://www.repair.org/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=repair.org}}</ref>====