The Right to Repair movement emerged in the 2020s demanding that any item purchased can be repaired by individuals or organisations other than the manufacturers or their service agents.
Modern technology, including computers, phones, and vehicles, is becoming increasingly complex and repairing them requires access to specialised parts, diagnostic equipment, and service data. Some companies deny access by the owner of the item to service data making repairs difficult and expensive.
The Right to Repair requires legislation to be enacted by Governments and in 2024 a Bill was lodged in Parliament to amend the Consumer Guarantees Act to improve access to spare parts and service information.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Further information
- Right to Repair at Consumer NZ
- The Repair Association (formerly the Digital Right to Repair Coalition)
- Right to Repair, an organisation advocating for for the Right to Repair in the European Union
- Right to Repair at iFixit
- Right to Repair at Wikipedia
- #RightToRepair at Twitter
- The right to repair: good for consumers and the environment, Alex Sims, University of Auckland, 22 November 2021
There are calls for manufacturers to make spare parts, tools and diagnostic information available to consumers for the useful life of a product.
Colorado Approves First-Ever Agricultural Right to Repair Bill | iFixit News16 March 2023
Denver legislators have just passed the first-ever agricultural Right to Repair bill. Today’s landslide 25-8 vote in the Senate followed a 48-12 vote in the House in February.
Denver legislators have just passed the first-ever agricultural Right to Repair bill. Today’s landslide 25-8 vote in the Senate followed a 48-12 vote in the House in February.
Fighting for the consumer’s right to repair | RNZ6 April 2022
Gay Gordon-Byrne has been described as the most important political advocate for consumer rights in the United States. In her role as executive director of the Repair Association, she’s spearheaded the Right to Repair movement in the US, focusing on some of the world’s biggest corporations.
Gay Gordon-Byrne has been described as the most important political advocate for consumer rights in the United States. In her role as executive director of the Repair Association, she’s spearheaded the Right to Repair movement in the US, focusing on some of the world’s biggest corporations.
The Freedom to Repair Act Will Make All Electronic Repairs Legal | iFixit News2 February 2022
Today, Representatives Mondaire Jones of New York (D) and Victoria Spartz of Indiana (R) introduced the Freedom to Repair Act. The bill would permanently fix an important aspect of copyright law, making almost all electronic repairs legal by default.
Today, Representatives Mondaire Jones of New York (D) and Victoria Spartz of Indiana (R) introduced the Freedom to Repair Act. The bill would permanently fix an important aspect of copyright law, making almost all electronic repairs legal by default.
Australians face “significant and unnecessary barriers” to Right to Repair | The Fifth Estate9 December 2021
At long last, the Federal Productivity Commission released the findings of an inquiry into Right to Repair laws in Australia. The report released last week found that there are “significant and unnecessary barriers” to consumers’ Right to Repair and recommended sweeping changes to Australia’s consumer and copyright laws that would make repairs to consumer products cheaper, easier, and far less wasteful for the community.
At long last, the Federal Productivity Commission released the findings of an inquiry into Right to Repair laws in Australia. The report released last week found that there are “significant and unnecessary barriers” to consumers’ Right to Repair and recommended sweeping changes to Australia’s consumer and copyright laws that would make repairs to consumer products cheaper, easier, and far less wasteful for the community.
The Right to Repair: Good for Consumers and the Environment | Newsroom20 November 2021
Repairing products rather than rubbishing them does more than simply minimising landfill waste. It also reduces the extraction of the earth’s precious resources, the health costs of heavy metals and other compounds in toxic rubbish, and the CO2 emissions in the recycling of unwanted or broken products and the production and distribution of new ones.
Repairing products rather than rubbishing them does more than simply minimising landfill waste. It also reduces the extraction of the earth’s precious resources, the health costs of heavy metals and other compounds in toxic rubbish, and the CO2 emissions in the recycling of unwanted or broken products and the production and distribution of new ones.
Government will move on right to repair legislation – David Parker | Newshub10 July 2021
Businesses may soon be legally bound to ensure Kiwis can repair old devices and appliances instead of replacing them.
Businesses may soon be legally bound to ensure Kiwis can repair old devices and appliances instead of replacing them.
EXCLUSIVE: The right to repair & why NZ must rethink the e-waste problem | IT Brief11 June 2021
What if there was a way to extend the lifespan of products before they end up in landfill? Device repairability seems like a logical step.
What if there was a way to extend the lifespan of products before they end up in landfill? Device repairability seems like a logical step.
‘Right to Repair’ Is Bad for Your Health | WSJ2 May 2021
A “right to repair” sounds reasonable, but forcing manufacturers to disclose their proprietary technologies would erode the incentive for innovation and endanger patients.
A “right to repair” sounds reasonable, but forcing manufacturers to disclose their proprietary technologies would erode the incentive for innovation and endanger patients.