A legislative battle is being fought over access to parts, tools, and technical information required for repair work. It first came to a head in automotive diagnostics, with the passage of the Massachusetts “Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act” and is now being considered by legislatures in 11 states, often driven by farmers who can no longer their own tractors, as well as other construction and medical equipment users, and consumer rights activists
Swelling popular support attracts both media attention and industry lobbyists. Though early results have been discouraging for repair advocates, the overwhelming support for the Massachusetts law, eventually passed by popular vote, gives some hope. Still, industry lobbyists– from John Deere to Apple– have outspent Right to Repair supporters 28-1. More analysis of spending by supporters and industry lobbyists is published by MapLight, and Time Magazine recently picked up the story.
Right to Repair is often depicted as an “us versus them” battle, but the Time article hints at a possible compromise: Willingness by technology manufacturers to share tools and equipment with third-party repairers, as a way to assuage popular pressure and avoid legislation. Apple recently made some iPhone screen repair machines available to third-parties, though repair advocates like the Repair Association see this as a token step, more about PR than repair access.