Your Right to Repair: The Battle Heats Up
▼ Summary
– The right-to-repair movement, which advocates for the ability to fix electronics without manufacturer approval, has gained broad support from diverse groups but faces opposition from companies.
– In a significant shift, three U.S. states passed right-to-repair laws in 2025, including in Texas with unanimous legislative support, after decades of advocacy.
– A core argument for the movement is that restricting repair creates a non-competitive, proprietary market for fixes after a product is purchased.
– The movement is also framed as an environmental issue, as repairability reduces waste, and has pressured even resistant companies like Apple to offer self-repair options.
– Despite legislative wins, advocates note companies sometimes circumvent rules, and the next step is ensuring proper compliance with the new laws.
The push for the right to repair has gained remarkable momentum, uniting a diverse coalition of consumers, farmers, and policymakers against restrictive manufacturer practices. This movement champions the ability to fix our own devices, from smartphones to farm equipment, without being forced to rely solely on the original maker. This year marked a significant legislative breakthrough, with three U.S. states enacting right-to-repair laws, signaling a powerful shift in the battle for consumer autonomy and product longevity.
Advocates argue that once you purchase a product, you should own it fully, including the freedom to maintain it. The fundamental problem with restricting repair is that it eliminates competition after the sale, creating a captive market for parts and service. This not only increases costs for consumers but also contributes to a growing problem of electronic waste. When repairs are difficult or forbidden, people are more likely to discard otherwise functional items.
While international bodies like the European Union have established strong repair frameworks, the United States has seen a state-by-state approach. The recent laws, passed even in traditionally conservative states with overwhelming bipartisan support, demonstrate the issue’s widespread appeal. These victories are crucial because federal legislation has stalled despite broad agreement on its necessity. The focus now is on expanding these laws to more states and ensuring they are robust enough to cover a wide range of products.
Environmental sustainability is a core pillar of the right-to-repair argument. Extending the life of electronics and appliances directly reduces the volume of material entering landfills and conserves the resources needed to manufacture new items. In response to both regulatory pressure and public demand, even major tech companies historically opposed to user repairs are making concessions. Companies like Apple and Google have begun offering self-repair programs and redesigning products for easier fixability, though advocates view these steps as long overdue and often insufficient.
However, the fight is far from over. Ensuring companies comply with the new laws in good faith is the next critical challenge. Some manufacturers engage in “malicious compliance,” offering repair parts and manuals in only the most restrictive manner possible or limiting programs to states with specific legislation. The goal for repair advocates is clear: to establish a durable, nationwide standard that truly returns control and ownership to the people who buy and use these products every day.
(Source: Wired)
