The right to repair is a legal rule that allows people who own devices and equipment, such as cars, electronics, and farming tools, to fix, repair, or change them as they see fit.

Common problems that make repairs difficult include rules that say you must use the company’s repair services, limits on getting tools or parts, and software issues that stop repairs. These problems create a situation where a company has exclusive control over repairing their products, which makes it hard or impossible for others to fix them. This can happen when it is too expensive or hard for people or independent repair shops to get parts, manuals, or tools needed to fix the product. The goal of these repair controls is to make customers use the company’s repair services or buy new products from the company instead.

These repair controls often lead to higher prices, longer wait times, fewer repair options, and less choice for customers. People who support the right to repair believe it helps lower costs, protect the environment, and ensure important supplies are available during emergencies. Many citizens are working to convince their governments to create laws that protect the right to repair.

Impacts

The right to repair movement originally started with groups that protect car buyers and companies that repair vehicles after they are sold. As smartphones and computers became widely used, discussions about allowing people to repair all types of electronic devices grew more common. This is because broken or old electronics are now the fastest growing type of waste. Today, it is estimated that more than half of people in the western world have one or more broken or unused electronic devices at home that are not sold again because repairs are not affordable.

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, hospitals faced challenges in getting repairs for important medical equipment, especially ventilators. The pandemic also helped increase support for the right to repair movement because many repair businesses were forced to close. The Economist has noted that people believe they should have the ability to repair their own products as a matter of fairness or ownership rights. People who oppose planned obsolescence, which is when products are designed to stop working after a short time, have also noticed that when repair costs are higher than buying a new product, companies that make the product control repairs, which increases prices.

Definition

The Right to Repair means that people who use electronic, technical, or car devices should be able to fix them without limits. Important points about this idea include:

• Devices should be built and made in a way that makes repairs simple and easy to do.
• People who use the products and repair shops should be able to get original parts and tools (both physical and software tools) at fair prices.
• Repairs should be possible without being blocked by software programming.
• Manufacturers should clearly tell users how easy or hard it is to repair their devices.

Goals of the Right to Repair include encouraging people to fix devices instead of buying new ones, making repairs cheaper, and helping the environment by reducing waste from broken electronics.

Using glue or special screws can make repairs harder. In general, special parts and tools can make repairs more difficult. For example, Apple’s "Lightning" charging ports and adapters need a special way to fix, which led the European Union to require all small devices to use USB-C ports instead.

Parts and tools needed for repairs should be available to everyone, including regular customers.

Some companies use methods like parts pairing or serialization, which stop parts from being used without a special code given to approved repair shops. These and other ways to control devices, such as digital rights management, are becoming more common. Using only approved parts can raise repair costs, making some people choose to buy new devices more quickly.

In addition to getting software updates, being able to use software from other companies is also a key goal. This would let some devices be changed or improved over time.

Repair guides and diagrams should be free for everyone to use, helping people learn how to fix their own devices.

History

Alfred P. Sloan, an executive at General Motors, used a strategy to keep changing products so people would always want the newest versions. This helped General Motors become the largest car company in the United States. Other industries started using this idea too, and Ford adopted it by 1933.

In the 1910s, Ford created certified repair shops and service networks to sell parts made by Ford instead of parts from other repair shops. Ford also required repair shops to charge the same flat fees for all repairs, even if the jobs were different. These yearly car updates and parts changes made it harder for independent repair shops to keep parts in stock.

Some court cases required products with repaired or refurbished parts to be labeled as "used." In 1947, a business owner sold old spark plugs under a trademarked name, which led to a lawsuit. This case helped create rules that allow people to legally resell repaired or refurbished items as long as they are clearly labeled.

The court case Champion Spark Plug Co. v. Sanders influenced rules from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that let businesses legally resell repaired or refurbished items if they are labeled properly. These rules also helped shape how trademarks are used for resale of used goods.

FTC guidelines in Title 16, Chapter I, Subchapter B, Part 20 explain how to label items that are "rebuilt," "refurbished," or "re-manufactured." These rules help prevent unfair competition in the car industry and allow businesses to repair items for resale.

Some companies started designing products that are easier to repair. Apple, a major computer company, once sold computers with easy-to-replace parts and repair instructions. However, Apple later made it harder for people to repair its products.

Copyright laws for computer software also made repairs harder. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 in the United States limits repairs unless exceptions are allowed. This law has been used to stop repairs on devices with software.

To stop people from refilling empty ink cartridges, some companies added microchips that track how much ink is used. In 2017, the Supreme Court ruled that reselling and refurbishing products is legal. However, complaints about printer repairability remain as of 2022.

In the early 2000s, the automotive industry opposed a proposed "right to repair" law. While some groups created online directories for repair tools, many independent repair shops still struggled to access diagnostic tools and parts. By 2000, electronic parts made up over 22% of a car’s total cost, up from 5% in the 1970s.

The "right to repair" movement grew as more people used electronics and farming equipment with advanced technology. Climate change activists also supported the movement to reduce electronic waste.

In 2012, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to pass a "right to repair" law for cars, requiring car companies to sell repair tools and materials to independent mechanics. This law influenced agreements for all 50 states starting in 2018.

Companies like Apple, John Deere, and AT&T have opposed "right to repair" laws. Groups from the tech and farming industries have supported both sides of the issue. In 2021, some groups faced criticism for not providing clear ways to repair equipment.

In 2017, users of older iPhones found that software updates slowed down their phones. Apple said this was to protect older batteries from sudden shutdowns, not to force people to buy new phones. Apple later offered cheaper battery replacements but did not allow third-party batteries.

In 2018, the FTC warned six companies that their warranty rules might break the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. The FTC said it is unfair to void warranties if customers use third-party parts or repair services. Sony and Nintendo updated their warranty policies after this notice.

In 2018, the Public Interest Research Group defended Eric Lundgren, who was sentenced for creating tools to extend computer life.

In 2018, the law allowing software changes to farming equipment was expanded to let third-party repair services help with modifications. The Library of Congress later supported these changes in 2021.

Enacted legislation

Some areas have passed laws that give people the right to repair items they own.

On November 7, 2024, Bill C-244 was approved and became official law, making Canada the first country to pass a national right-to-repair law.

On May 30, 2024, the European Union’s Right to Repair Directive (R2RD) was adopted. This law requires companies to provide repair services that are quick and not too expensive. It also ensures that people know their rights to repair items. According to the European Commission’s summary of the Directive (2024/1799), companies that make products covered by the EU’s repair rules must offer repairs “within a reasonable time” and “for a reasonable price.” These companies cannot use agreement terms or hardware/software methods that make repairs difficult unless there is a clear reason to do so.

The directive also includes a voluntary form called the European Repair Information Form. Repairers can give this form to customers (usually for free if asked), allowing customers to compare repair costs, timing, and conditions. Completed forms stay valid for at least 30 days. The directive also changes EU rules about selling goods. If a customer chooses to repair an item instead of replacing it during the seller’s legal guarantee period, the guarantee must last an additional year.

To help repair services become more widely available, the directive creates an online platform in Europe (with sections for each country or linked national platforms). This platform allows repairers to be listed, and optionally, sellers of used goods and community repair programs, like repair cafés, can also be included. The common EU platform must be developed by July 31, 2027, and fully operational by January 1, 2028. Member countries must adapt the directive by July 31, 2026, with the law taking effect from that date.

Before this, the right to repair in the EU was covered by the Sale of Goods Directive and other rules under the Ecodesign Directive.

In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has studied repair limits in relation to consumer rights and competition. A 2021 report to Congress, titled Nixing the Fix, explains common repair restrictions, such as limiting access to parts, tools, and special software used for diagnosing problems. It also examines how these restrictions affect consumers and competition.

The following list includes laws passed by state legislatures and signed by governors.

The right-to-repair law has limited use. In 2021, the Productivity Commission released a report with recommendations about the right to repair. In 2022, new laws were introduced called The Motor Vehicle Repair and Service Information Sharing Scheme. This law requires companies, importers, and others to share repair information with repairers and training organizations at a fair price. The law has since been expanded to include farm equipment. Some people believe more changes are needed.

Non-government right-to-repair organizations

Many groups that are not part of the government work to support the right to repair. These groups include:

• Canrepair.ca – the website of the Canadian Repair Coalition, a group in Canada made up of repair workers, individuals, teachers, business groups, and companies that support repair rights in government policies.

• Repair.eu – the website of the Right to Repair Europe Coalition, which includes more than 170 groups from 27 European countries. These groups include environmental organizations and repair businesses, such as community repair groups, spare parts sellers, and companies that fix or restore products.

• Repair.org – the website of the Repair Association, a group in the United States made up mostly of small repair workers and companies that support repair rights in government policies.

• Pirg.org/campaigns/right-to-repair – the website for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s (PIRG) repair rights campaign. PIRG works to create laws that support repair rights at both state and national levels.

• IFixit.com – the website for iFixit’s repair rights campaign. iFixit provides online guides for repairing devices and supports laws that protect repair rights.

• Fulu Foundation – started in 2023 by Louis Rossmann and Eron Jokipii. This group aims to show how some companies stop people from repairing products, teach the public about repair rights, bring repair workers together, and push for changes to unfair laws.

• Consumer Rights Wiki – a website created in 2024 by Louis Rossmann where people can share information about companies and products that make it hard to repair items.

There are also many Repair Cafés around the world. Some are supported by local governments, while others are run independently by community members.