Right to Repair
Table of Contents
Introduction
Since humans first started creating things, we have also repaired those items. We can see evidence of this in archeological dig sights, in clothing, tools, and furniture.
Only in recent decades have companies started to try and protect their profits by making it illegal for product owners to open their own devices to replace batteries or perform other basic forms of repair or maintenance. John Deer for example used copy right laws to prevent farmers from fixing or altering their own equipment, instead forcing them to rely on expensive, authorized repair shops.
3:29 minute video.
Benefits of Right to Repair
Reduced Environmental Impact
"Repairing appliances instead of replacing them is a simple yet powerful step towards reducing electronic waste, conserving resources, and mitigating climate change. By embracing repair culture, individuals can contribute to a more sustainable future for our planet while enjoying the economic and environmental benefits of extended product lifetimes. Repairing equipment instead of replacing it can offer several carbon footprint benefits, including reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, reducing the energy required to manufacture new products, and reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted during the production process." U-Tech
Self Reliance
Accessibility
Not everyone lives near a specialized repair shop. This means that when your local repair place can't legally repair your items, and the closest certified location is prohibitively far away, people often find it cheaper to buy new than to foot the travel or shipping costs to have fixable items repaired. This is a financial problem thrust onto regular people as well as a serious environmental issue.
Opening & Repairing Technology is a Steppingstone for Budding Engineers
When I was younger, most people I met two were working in technology fields or could build their own computers had started out by taking apart remote controls, VCRs, and other pieces of technology. By illegalizing this type of behavior, companies are stifling self-education, and limiting the potential of the next generation of technology experts.
Reduced Cost of Repair
Solutions
Legalize & Protect the Right to Repair
Scroll down to learn about your country's current legislation for or against the right to repair. You can also scroll down to find petitions and various ways to contact your representatives about this issue.
Durability Index & Rating System
Tracking reparability, average life-span, and other factors then making them publicly available for consumers can help the average person select products with more confidence, while avoiding low-quality products that only contribute to environment.
France has already implemented an index or reparability, but in other countries individual organizations have had to step up to make up for official oversight. There is currently some difference in rating systems and between organizations.
Legislation & Programs
Depending on where you live, you may already/still have the right to repair. This section is intended to help people keep track of what's legal where, and what measures are being used to protect or punish people who want to mend or adapt their own possessions.
Asia
India
Government of India: Department of Consumer Affairs (MCA): Right to Repair "has set up a committee to come up with a Right to Repair framework. The framework is significant as it will give consumers a chance to repair their products at an optimal cost instead of buying new products altogether. The important sectors for the initial focus of the framework are farming equipment, mobile phones & tablets, consumer durables, automobiles & automobile equipment."
South Korea
"In November 2021, the South Korean Justice Party proposed a Right to Repair Act that’s currently in debate in the National Assembly." - iFixit: International Day of Repair
North America
Canada
The Canadian Repair Declaration "We are excited to share with you the draft Canadian Repair Declaration, created by a group of dedicated Repair advocates. Do you have thoughts or suggestions for how it can be improved? We want to hear from you!"
Mexico
La Ley Federal de Protección a la Propiedad Industrial Currently Mexico's laws may criminalize those who wish to repair products, including small repair shops which may now be illegal or prone to high fees.
"Mexico’s National Auto Parts Industry (INA) association has added its voice to that of international automotive organizations in calling for legislation that would guarantee the right to repair. The association signed a joint statement promoting the right to repair, a concept that emerges in response to the moves of some automakers to hinder the user’s ability to repair their vehicles as they see fit.
INA says this legislation is critical for the future of the automotive parts and service industry, which keeps 1.5 billion vehicles on the road and contributes US$1.8 trillion to the global economy. The joint statement has been signed by numerous automotive organizations, including the Automotive Industries Association of Canada, the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association, the European Garage Equipment Association and the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India, among many others.
The statement outlines the fundamental principles, objectives and expected outcomes of the right to repair movement, including the ten best practice principles for developing a legislative framework that countries can adapt to their convenience. The document addresses equal access, telematics, pass thru, subscription terms, fair market price, real time access, accountability, circumvention, operations and transparency.
According to INA, independent repair shops perform 70% of repairs once vehicles are out of warranty. However, the organization says that the automakers are increasingly blocking access to vehicle repair and maintenance, which represents a threat to the voice of consumers, especially those in suburban and rural communities that will have limited access to affordable vehicle service and repair.
In Mexico, the value of the aftermarket sector neared US$30 billion in 2022 and is made up of around 240,000 economic units, of which 72% of them are repair, body and paint stores, while the other 28% are wholesale and retail spare parts outlets. Additionally, the country’s vehicle fleet currently consists of 33.9 million vehicles with an average age of 15 years.
The organization highlights that countries like Australia and South Africa have already obtained the right for their drivers to repair their vehicles, which INA says is “setting an example for similar legislation in Mexico.”" - Mexico Business: INA Signs Joint Statement Right to Repair
USA
National Conference of State Legislatures: Right to Repair 2023 Legislation see updates by state and their bill status including vetoed, passed, failed, and pending.
PIRG: Right to Repair also provides a list of states and their current legislation relating to the right to repair.
California
California Right to Repair Act "This bill would enact the Right to Repair Act. The bill would require, except as specified and regardless of whether any express warranty is made, the manufacturer of an above-described electronic or appliance product, in the above-described circumstances, and in those same circumstances but sold to others outside of direct retail sales, to make available, on fair and reasonable terms, to product owners, service and repair facilities, and service dealers, the means, as described, to effect the diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of the product, as provided. The bill would also require a service and repair facility or service dealer that is not an authorized repair provider, as defined, of a manufacturer to provide a written notice of that fact to any customer seeking repair of an electronic or appliance product before the repair facility or service dealer repairs the product, and to disclose if it uses replacement parts that are used or from a supplier that is not the manufacturer. The bill would also authorize a city, a county, a city and county, or the state to bring an action in superior court to impose civil penalties on a person or entity for violating the Right to Repair Act, as provided. The bill would make these requirements and enforcement provisions operative on July 1, 2024."
Colorado
Right to Repair Law (PDF) "Under current law, an original equipment manufacturer of agricultural equipment or a powered wheelchair is required, upon request, to provide parts, tools, documentation, and other resources to independent repair providers and owners of the manufacturer's agricultural equipment or powered wheelchairs to facilitate an independent repair provider's or owner's diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of a piece of agricultural equipment or a powered wheelchair (right-to-repair statutes). The bill expands the right-to-repair statutes to digital electronic equipment and adds exemptions for various types of digital electronic equipment, including motor vehicles, medical devices other than powered wheelchairs, and certain construction- and energy-related equipment."
Colorado General Assembly: Consumer Right To Repair Agricultural Equipment (HB23-1011) "Concerning a requirement that an agricultural equipment manufacturer facilitate the repair of its equipment by providing certain other persons with the resources needed to repair the manufacturer's agricultural equipment."
Indiana
Indiana’s Commercial Code includes a provision on right to repair where audio and visual product manufacturers who make an express warranty regarding products costing $50 or more must make parts and service information available to service and repair facilities.
Minnesota
Right to Repair Law "An act relating to commerce; establishing a biennial budget for Department of Commerce and related activities; adding and modifying various provisions governing health, property, life, homeowner's, and automobile insurance; regulating financial institutions; modifying provisions governing financial institutions; providing for certain consumer protections and privacy; modifying provisions governing commerce; making technical changes; establishing civil and criminal penalties; authorizing administrative rulemaking; requiring reports; appropriating and transferring money; amending Minnesota Statutes..."
New York
Senate Bill S1320 "Relates to the sale of digital electronic equipment manufactured and first sold or used in New York on or after July 1, 2023; requires original equipment manufacturers to provide diagnostic and repair information; authorizes original equipment manufacturers to establish reasonable training and certification programs for independent repair providers and to offer parts to independent repair providers or owners with other parts where the individual components may pose a heightened safety risk; relates to the effectiveness thereof."
Oregon
Right to Repair Law "Relating to a right to repair consumer electronic equipment." "Requires an original equipment manufacturer to make available to an owner of consumer electronic equipment or an independent repair provider on fair and reasonable terms any documentation, tool, part or other device or implement that the original equipment manufacturer makes available to an authorized service provider for the purpose of diagnosing, maintaining or repairing consumer electronic equipment."
Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s Commercial Code "requires manufacturers to make replacement parts and service information available to warranty stations and independent service facilities for all new consumer products."
Oceana
Australia
Australian Government: Right to Repair "Final report to Government and release"
Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme (PDF) "Car manufacturers now have to provide Australian independent repair technicians with all of the data and information they need to effect repairs, including manuals, service bulletins, wiring diagrams, and technical specifications. This information should make repairs cheaper and more widely available—aftermarket experts say that 1 in 10 cars brought to repair shops were affected by information unavailability. Failure to comply carries a $10 million fine for manufacturers." More info here.
New Zealand
Consumer Guarantees (Right to Repair) Amendment Bill "This bill seeks to require manufacturers to make repair parts and information available to consumers in order to extend the lifetime of products, keeping resources in circulation and waste out of landfills."
Speak Up!
Sign petitions, write, and call your representatives to let them know why the right to repair is so important for people and the environment.
North America
Canada
The Canadian Repair Declaration "We are excited to share with you the draft Canadian Repair Declaration, created by a group of dedicated Repair advocates. Do you have thoughts or suggestions for how it can be improved? We want to hear from you!"
USA
Conusmer Reports: National Petition "We urge our local and federal lawmakers to immediately pass a Right to Repair law that will save us real money when it comes to fixing our electronic devices, as well as save our environment by keeping electronic waste out of landfills. Consumers spend nearly $1,500 on new electronics per household, per year – and we could save a combined $40 billion and countless tons of electronic waste if we are able to easily repair, instead of replace, the expensive electronics we own."
MEMA: Protect Your Right to Repair "As vehicles modernize, common repairs and routine maintenance increasingly require access to vehicle data, tools, and software that are currently controlled by vehicle manufacturers. These anticompetitive practices leave independent repairers unable to service certain vehicles and prevent aftermarket suppliers from managing demand and offering quality, safe, and affordable replacement parts to consumers.
If left unchecked, vehicle manufacturers’ repair restrictions stand to dramatically reduce available service options for American consumers, who overwhelmingly (70%) choose independent repair shops for post-warranty repairs.
Vehicle owners should have the right to choose who repairs their vehicle and with what parts – whether through independent aftermarket or vehicle manufacturer channels."
The Repair Association: Stand-Up use their map to find your state and contact your representatives.
Petitions by State
Tools & Resources
Worth of Repair
Der Wert der Reparatur (The Value of Repair - use the transalte symbol in the url bar) "Reparieren erhält Wert. Die Reparatur ermöglicht es, Kostbares, Liebgewonnenes, Systemrelevantes und Praktisches am Leben zu halten, wenn Funktionen oder Design beeinträchtigt sind. Reparatur ist damit ein elementarer Bestandteil unserer Gesellschaft und Wirtschaft. Neben dem offensichtlichen Nutzen der Reparatur - etwas Kaputtes wird wiederhergestellt - wirkt das Reparieren sich auch auf vielfältige andere Weise positiv auf unser Leben aus. Es lohnt sich, einen genaueren Blick auf diese Jahrtausende alte Technik zu werfen und festzustellen: Der Wert der Reparatur wird unterschätzt."
Product Ratings
Looria Reviews "Find out how long products last, where they break, and how to fix them"
Indice de durabilité (Index of Durability)
Policies & Initiatives
Information about existing policies and initiatives from around the world can be vital for creating new ones. We can look at what others have created, learn about the impacts, and create our own for our own countries.
Digital Index: Right to Repair "An open and independent market for repair is more efficient, more competitive and thus beneficial for consumers. However, it is common practice for manufacturers to restrict a consumer’s ability to repair digital and connected goods either by withholding information on how to repair the product or holding a monopoly on repair services. This section considers policies and initiatives that defend consumers’ rights to repair their products without it affecting the product functionality or their consumer rights."
Asia
India
Government of India: Department of Consumer Affairs (MCA): Right to Repair "has set up a committee to come up with a Right to Repair framework. The framework is significant as it will give consumers a chance to repair their products at an optimal cost instead of buying new products altogether. The important sectors for the initial focus of the framework are farming equipment, mobile phones & tablets, consumer durables, automobiles & automobile equipment."
Organizations
Some of these organizations focus solely on protecting and advancing our right to repair our own things, while others also offer advice and other resources.
International
iFixit "Things break. Wear and tear is normal, but throwing away almost-functional products shouldn’t be. As the world’s largest online repair community, we help thousands of people fix their broken stuff every day. We also have everything you need to fix your electronic devices yourself—quality replacement parts, specialty precision tools, and most importantly—free step-by-step repair guides for thousands of products.
A repairable future starts with you taking repair into your own hands and looks like active legislation and products designed to be fixed. iFixit is working at every level possible to make that repairable future a reality, and we couldn’t do it without your support. Together we can fix any thing."
Restarters Community "We are a global community of people who make local repair events happen and campaign for our right to repair. Whether you run repair events (such as Restart Parties or Repair Cafés) or are simply interested in fixing things, you're more than welcome."
Africa
Nigeria
PolicyLAB AFRICA: Right to Repair "Our vision is to seek reflection & change in our relationship with gadgets and to advocate for more repairable products and pro-repair policies in Nigeria."
South Africa
Right to Repair South Africa (R2RSA) "is a not-for-profit company, specifically formed to champion the Right to Repair campaign - fighting for your right to choose and for fair competition in the Automotive Aftermarket."
Uganda
Community Creativity for Development (in the Rhino Refugee Camp) trains young people to repair, hosts repair cafes, and is pushing for better repair policy."
Asia
India
NITI Aayog: LiFE "envisions replacing the prevalent 'use-and-dispose' economy—governed by mindless and destructive consumption—with a circular economy, which would be defined by mindful and deliberate utilization. The Mission intends to nudge individuals to undertake simple acts in their daily lives that can contribute significantly to climate change when embraced across the world.
LiFE plans to leverage the strength of social networks to influence social norms surrounding climate. The Mission plans to create and nurture a global network of individuals, namely ‘Pro-Planet People’ (P3), who will have a shared commitment to adopt and promote environmentally friendly lifestyles. Through the P3 community, the Mission seeks to create an ecosystem that will reinforce and enable environmentally friendly behaviours to be self-sustainable."
Europe
The Right to Repair Europe "coalition represents over 100 organisations from 21 European countries. It represents environmental NGOs and repair actors such as community repair groups, social economy actors, spare parts distributors, self-repairers, repair and refurbishing businesses, and any citizen who would like to advocate for their right to repair. This is a rapidly growing movement, and its objective to make repair affordable, accessible and mainstream is aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action plan. Browse all our member organisations by country here.
We’re fighting to remove the barriers to repair our products, so they can last for longer. Why?
The problem is simple. The products we use everyday are getting harder and harder to repair. E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world, with phone and laptops manufacturers making their products harder to fix. And it’s not just digital devices – the amount of household appliances failing within 5 years of their purchase is also skyrocketing.
We’ve had enough. On every metric – emissions, social impact, waste – this can’t go on. So we’re committing to doing something about it. We want the Right to Repair."
France
Germany / Deutschland
Runde Tisch Reparatur "Gemeinsam mit seinen Partnern setzt der Runde Tisch Reparatur sich für eine neue Kultur der Reparatur in Deutschland ein."
UK
The Restart Project "helps people learn how to repair their broken electronics, and rethink how they consume them in the first place."
North America
Canada
CanRepair "The Canadian Repair Coalition" "Assembling advocates for the Right to Repair from coast to coast to coast. We believe that the right to repair is an issue that impacts all of us. Whether you represent a non-profit organization, an innovative new company, or are citizen ready to advocate for repair reforms in Canada, we want to hear from you."
USA
Auto Care: Access To and Control of Vehicle Data "Direct access to vehicle data is under threat by vehicle manufacturers. Historically, OBD-2 ports have granted vehicle owners and technicians access to vehicle data to assist with maintenance and repair.
However, in the digital age of the modern car, vehicle data is now transmitted wirelessly and sent directly only to vehicle manufacturers.
In 2021, 50% of cars already have these connected capabilities and by 2030, about 95% of new vehicles sold globally will have this connectivity (McKinsey)."
PIRG: Right to Repair "Want the right to repair your stuff? We are working to get Apple, John Deere and other companies to provide access to the information, tools and parts we need."
RepairAct.com "For the automotive industry, we believe people should have the ability to maintain and fix their vehicles at the repair facility, both independent and dealer, of their choice (including their driveway), rather than having to rely solely on the manufacturer or authorized repair shops to do so."
29 second video about how the Right to Repair pertains to the US automotive industry and vehicle owners.
SecuRepairs “is an American organization of information (‘cyber’) security professionals who support the right to repair. [Their] members are some of the most respected names in the information security field and include executives, researchers, product managers, entrepreneurs and academics.” The SecuRepairs website offers an outline of the fundamental value of repair to society, culture and the economy, and to the security of information technologies. It is a good source for understanding the issue generally, and particularly from the perspective of information security professionals."
The Repair Association "You bought it, you should own it. Period. You should have the right to use it, modify it, and repair it wherever, whenever, and however you want.
We fight for your right to fix."
Oceana
Australia
Australian Repair Network "brings together a wide range of stakeholders interested in or working in the repair sector, who genuinely want to engage in open and respectful dialogue; with industry, other sectors and the community at large about the legislative and policy changes that are being developed to respond to the international right to repair movement."
Griffith: Law Futures Centre "we connect an extensive array of multidisciplinary international scholars and policy makers to solve these problems. Our members are committed to outstanding collaborative research that is responsible for global change."
New Zealand
Repair Café Aotearoa New Zealand (RCANZ) "The aim of Repair Café Aotearoa New Zealand (RCANZ) is to foster a culture of repair in New Zealand.
We hope you enjoy browsing our website. Please contact us or subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates."Repair Network Aotearoa "aims to facilitate product repair and reuse in New Zealand, offering a support network to enhance repair skills and resources. We advocate repairing over replacing to contribute to a thriving economy and support local repair businesses for a sustainable future."
South America
Chile
ReparaLab "Proponemos una ley que garantiza elLderecho a reparar los productos que adquieremos."
French Guiana
International
AutoCare: Global Right-to-Repair scroll down to see a map of which countries currently support right to repair vehicles.
Oceana
Australia
Interactive Map of Repair Cafes in Australia (scroll down and zoom to interact)