Share this article
Latest news
With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low
Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app
Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities
Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount
Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier
Right to Repair is fast gaining traction, and you should care about it.
Corporations mint more money if you don’t
5 min. read
Published onFebruary 22, 2024
published onFebruary 22, 2024
Share this article
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
Imagine you get a $1500 laptop and expect five years of seamless experience. Two years down the line, it breaks down.
Now, the local repair shop can’t fix it due to the unavailability of official components or because it’s designed in a way that makes repairs difficult. Subsequently, you are forced to contact the manufacturer, who shares an exorbitant estimate. Sounds like a familiar situation?
This is what theRight-to-Repairmovement addresses!
What is the Right to Repair movement?
TheRight-to-Repairmovement advocates providing consumers (or third-party repair shops) with the necessary items and the technical know-how to repair appliances. It’s simple: if you purchase something, you should be able to repair it or go to a repair shop of your choice.
But when was the last time you were able to do that? Over the years, we have become so accustomed to getting electronic devices repaired by the official manufacturer or replacing them altogether that it doesn’t seem like a problem anymore.
And tech giants are benefiting from this lackadaisical approach of ours, minting more money!
TheRight-to-Repairmovement has five objectives, as stated onThe Repair Association’sofficial website:
What do people think about the right of repair?
Right-to-Repairis the need of the hour! We have all, at some point, been informed by the manufacturer that a repair is not possible or feasible and that we should, instead, replace the product. This recently happened when my iPhone had water damage!
You will come across similar concerns raised by users on the Internet!
We recently conducted aRight-to-Repairsurveythat comprised1281respondents from124countries, and the results were surprising.
First, 67% of the respondents have never heard ofRight-to-Repairor don’t know how it applies to them. Second,77%of the respondents were unable to repair their PCs or found the process much too complex. Third,83%believed there should be some government regulations concerningRight-to-Repair.
Lastly, the not-so-surprising part,80%wanted to buy a PC from a manufacturer that supported the idea of easy repair.
In all, the awareness around theRight-to-Repairmovement is growing, but advocacy groups still have a long way to go in terms of public outreach!
Besides, if companies like Framework can develop modular, easily modified and upgradable PCs, why can’t others follow suit?
Are brands supporting the right to repair?
There has been a change in their approach in recent years, but it has more to do with the laws passed by governments worldwide. For instance, last year, California became the third state in the US, after New York and Minnesota, to pass theRight-to-RepairAct.
The law states that for products between$50and$99.99, manufacturers must provide the necessary support (documentation, repair parts, tools) for 3 years, and for products over$99.99, 7 years.
Earlier, France implemented aRepairability Indexin Jan’21 for five categories of electronic devices based on 5 critical metrics. This was seen as a significant milestone forRight-to-Repairadvocates. In recent years, other countries have followed suit and introduced similar measures and laws.
Yet, companies continue to remain hesitant! Because without explicit repair rights, they would lose a major share of their revenue.
Even though they have spoken in favour ofRight-to-Repair, the actual implementation of the principles is yet to be seen!
For instance, Apple’s latestiPhone 15, though featuring a more repairable design, has a wide array of software locks that hinder repair and prevent replacement of components. Ultimately, you are forced to go to a certified Apple service center.
Microsoft, on the other hand, hasembracedRight-to-Repairin a relatively user-oriented manner.Surface Laptop 5is a prime example. The laptop was designed with repairability in mind. Evenrefurbished Microsoft Surface laptopsare in high demand now!
How does the right to repair concern you?
Let’s understand it with an example everyone will relate to. Earlier, both PCs and mobile phones came with an easily detachable battery, which is now built-in. Back then, if there were any issues, you just had to remove the battery, identify the model, and get a new one.
Now, it’s almost impossible! You will have to unscrew the back panel, which often voids the warranty. If you overcome the first hurdle, then comes the dreaded maze of connections. So, basically, companies are forcing us to contact their official repair center and buy their products.
Similarly, integrating computer chips in almost every electrical appliance is making repair all the more difficult. In the end, it’s you, the consumer, who has to shell out a larger sum!
Let’s not forget thepiling of e-waste. Every time you throw away an unrepairable device, it’s a hazard to the environment. The world produced57.4million metric tonnes of e-waste in2021, and it’s expected to increase to75million metric tonnes in2030.
It’s time for you to act! Companies won’t bother unless forced by the laws because theRight-to-Repairmovement directly affects their revenue stream.
What do you think aboutRight-to-Repair? Share with our readers in the comments section.
More about the topics:apple,automatic repair,microsoft
Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim has always been fond of technology, be it scrolling through the settings on his iPhone, Android device, or Windows PC. He’s specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
Long-time Windows user, Kazim is ready to provide a solution for your every software & hardware error on Windows 11, Windows 10 and any previous iteration. He’s also one of our experts in Networking & Security.
User forum
0 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim is specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
