Planned obsolescence: Difference between revisions

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*Legal Obsolescence: Regulatory bans.

Modern devices are often sealed with adhesives, welded components, and/or proprietary screws, making disassembly difficult or destructive. Smartphones exemplify systemic and contrived obsolescence, with glued-in batteries and soldered components needing specialized tools in some cases and software updates that render the device useless.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Mauro |last=Cordella |first2=Felice |last2=Alfieri |first3=Christian |last3=Clemm |first4=Anton |last4=Berwald |display-authors=2 |title=Durability of smartphones: A technical analysis of reliability and repairability aspects |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7871336/ |website=nih.gov |date=1 Dec 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241102180741/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7871336/ |archive-date=2 Nov 2024 |doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125388 |pmc=7871336 |pmid=33658746}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Smartphone Repairability Scores |url=https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/smartphone-repairability-scores |website=iFixit |access-date=18 Jul 2025}}</ref> These design practices force consumers to rely on manufacturer-authorized repairs or buy replacements, aligning with planned obsolescence strategies.

Modern devices are often sealed with adhesives, welded components, and/or proprietary screws, making disassembly difficult or destructive. Smartphones exemplify systemic and contrived obsolescence, with glued-in batteries and soldered components needing specialized tools in some cases and software updates that render the device useless.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Mauro |last=Cordella |first2=Felice |last2=Alfieri |first3=Christian |last3=Clemm |first4=Anton |last4=Berwald |display-authors=2 |title=Durability of smartphones: A technical analysis of reliability and repairability aspects |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7871336/ |website=nih.gov |date=1 Dec 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241102180741/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7871336/ |archive-date=2 Nov 2024 |doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125388 |pmc=7871336 |pmid=33658746}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Smartphone Repairability Scores |url=https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/smartphone-repairability-scores |website=iFixit |access-date=18 Jul 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209231832/https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/smartphone-repairability-scores |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref> These design practices force consumers to rely on manufacturer-authorized repairs or buy replacements, aligning with planned obsolescence strategies.

A foundational 1984 Stanford study theorized that monopolists intentionally reduce product durability to maximize profits by forcing repeat purchases. Oligopolists may collude to shorten product lifespans, though outcomes depend on market dynamics.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bulow |first=Jeremy |title=An Economic Theory of Planned Obsolescence |url=https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/working-papers/economic-theory-planned-obsolescence |journal=Stanford Graduate School of Business |date=1984 |access-date=18 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224142747/https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/working-papers/economic-theory-planned-obsolescence |archive-date=24 Dec 2016}}</ref>

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|access-date=18 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415112420/https://getenviropass.com/planned-obsolescence/ |archive-date=15 Apr 2024}}</ref>

*Copyrighted repair manuals: [[Toshiba]] and others have restricted access to repair guides, stifling third-party repair markets.

*Copyrighted repair manuals: Toshiba and others have restricted access to repair guides, stifling third-party repair markets.

Such tactics disproportionately affect low-income and geographically isolated consumers, who lack access to authorized repair centers.<ref name=":3" />

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EU Battery Regulation (2026): Requires user-replaceable batteries in electronics, countering sealed designs.

Despite these efforts, enforcement remains challenging. France's 2015 law against planned obsolescence saw no convictions until 2022 due to the difficulty of proving manufacturer intent.<ref name=":2" />

Despite these efforts, enforcement remains challenging. France's 2015 law against planned obsolescence made it punishable by up to two years in prison and fines of up to 5% of annual revenue. It saw no convictions until 2022 due to the difficulty of proving manufacturer intent.<ref name=":2" /> But in 2020 France and [[Apple]] settled a claim championed by Halte à l'Obsolescence Programmée with the DGCCRF fraud watchdog for €25 million.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-02-07 |title=Apple fined €25 million for slowing iPhone software |url=https://www.dw.com/en/france-fines-apple-25-million-for-slowing-iphone-software/a-52290154 |work=DW}}</ref>

Non-repairability is a cornerstone of planned obsolescence, enabling manufacturers to control product lifespans and maximize profits. While legislation like the EU's Right to Repair represents progress, systemic change requires dismantling design barriers, improving consumer access to repairs, and shifting cultural norms toward durability over disposability.

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 *Legal Obsolescence: Regulatory bans.
-Modern devices are often sealed with adhesives, welded components, and/or proprietary screws, making disassembly difficult or destructive. Smartphones exemplify systemic and contrived obsolescence, with glued-in batteries and soldered components needing specialized tools in some cases and software updates that render the device useless.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Mauro |last=Cordella |first2=Felice |last2=Alfieri |first3=Christian |last3=Clemm |first4=Anton |last4=Berwald |display-authors=2 |title=Durability of smartphones: A technical analysis of reliability and repairability aspects |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7871336/ |website=nih.gov |date=1 Dec 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241102180741/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7871336/ |archive-date=2 Nov 2024 |doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125388 |pmc=7871336 |pmid=33658746}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Smartphone Repairability Scores |url=https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/smartphone-repairability-scores |website=iFixit |access-date=18 Jul 2025}}</ref> These design practices force consumers to rely on manufacturer-authorized repairs or buy replacements, aligning with planned obsolescence strategies.
+Modern devices are often sealed with adhesives, welded components, and/or proprietary screws, making disassembly difficult or destructive. Smartphones exemplify systemic and contrived obsolescence, with glued-in batteries and soldered components needing specialized tools in some cases and software updates that render the device useless.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Mauro |last=Cordella |first2=Felice |last2=Alfieri |first3=Christian |last3=Clemm |first4=Anton |last4=Berwald |display-authors=2 |title=Durability of smartphones: A technical analysis of reliability and repairability aspects |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7871336/ |website=nih.gov |date=1 Dec 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241102180741/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7871336/ |archive-date=2 Nov 2024 |doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125388 |pmc=7871336 |pmid=33658746}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Smartphone Repairability Scores |url=https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/smartphone-repairability-scores |website=iFixit |access-date=18 Jul 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209231832/https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/smartphone-repairability-scores |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref> These design practices force consumers to rely on manufacturer-authorized repairs or buy replacements, aligning with planned obsolescence strategies.
 A foundational 1984 Stanford study theorized that monopolists intentionally reduce product durability to maximize profits by forcing repeat purchases. Oligopolists may collude to shorten product lifespans, though outcomes depend on market dynamics.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bulow |first=Jeremy |title=An Economic Theory of Planned Obsolescence |url=https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/working-papers/economic-theory-planned-obsolescence |journal=Stanford Graduate School of Business |date=1984 |access-date=18 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224142747/https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/working-papers/economic-theory-planned-obsolescence |archive-date=24 Dec 2016}}</ref>
@@ Line 95: / Line 95: @@
 |access-date=18 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415112420/https://getenviropass.com/planned-obsolescence/ |archive-date=15 Apr 2024}}</ref>
-*Copyrighted repair manuals: [[Toshiba]] and others have restricted access to repair guides, stifling third-party repair markets.
+*Copyrighted repair manuals: Toshiba and others have restricted access to repair guides, stifling third-party repair markets.
 Such tactics disproportionately affect low-income and geographically isolated consumers, who lack access to authorized repair centers.<ref name=":3" />
@@ Line 108: / Line 108: @@
 EU Battery Regulation (2026): Requires user-replaceable batteries in electronics, countering sealed designs.
-Despite these efforts, enforcement remains challenging. France's 2015 law against planned obsolescence saw no convictions until 2022 due to the difficulty of proving manufacturer intent.<ref name=":2" />
+Despite these efforts, enforcement remains challenging. France's 2015 law against planned obsolescence made it punishable by up to two years in prison and fines of up to 5% of annual revenue. It saw no convictions until 2022 due to the difficulty of proving manufacturer intent.<ref name=":2" /> But in 2020 France and [[Apple]] settled a claim championed by Halte à l'Obsolescence Programmée with the DGCCRF fraud watchdog for €25 million.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-02-07 |title=Apple fined €25 million for slowing iPhone software |url=https://www.dw.com/en/france-fines-apple-25-million-for-slowing-iphone-software/a-52290154 |work=DW}}</ref>
 Non-repairability is a cornerstone of planned obsolescence, enabling manufacturers to control product lifespans and maximize profits. While legislation like the EU's Right to Repair represents progress, systemic change requires dismantling design barriers, improving consumer access to repairs, and shifting cultural norms toward durability over disposability.