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A number of states are considering right to repair bills, legislation which if passed would make it easier for individuals and repair shops to replace or repair electronics parts. Repair.org reports that 17 states have already introduced bills this year and while most aim to make repair parts and manuals accessible, Washington's proposed legislation would straight up ban electronics that prevent easy repair. "Original manufacturers of digital electronic products sold on or after January 1, 2019, in Washington state are prohibited from designing or manufacturing digital electronic products in such a way as to prevent reasonable diagnostic or repair functions by an independent repair provider," says the bill. "Preventing reasonable diagnostic or repair functions includes permanently affixing a battery in a manner that makes it difficult or impossible to remove."
[...] Naturally, tech groups have jumped to make their opposition clear. In a letter to Morris, groups such as the Consumer Technology Association, the Telecommunications Industry Association and the Computer Technology Industry Association said the bill was "unwarranted" and added, "With access to technical information, criminals can more easily circumvent security protections, harming not only the product owner but also everyone who shares their network."
Source: Engadget
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Monday January 29 2018, @04:25PM (1 child)
I am surprised bills ensuring the right to repair have even made it to legislatures. No corporation would advocate it. It's hard to imagine any consumer advocating for it, either, because they've all been trained by planned obsolescence to an extreme degree. Some feature of your device has broken or sticks? No problem, quick trip to the store or website and order a whole new one.
I do hope such bills succeed, though. The right to repair is fundamental. I'd take it one step further and say we need a right to manufacture.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday January 29 2018, @05:53PM
It is important that consumers preserve their right to remove the tubes and take them down to the local pharmacy's tube tester.
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