Right to Repair Consumer Protection

Presented By miler smith

This Movement Is Currently
In The Amicus Brief Writing Stage.

The Repair Monopoly Problem

When my daughter’s laptop screen cracked, the manufacturer quoted $600 for repair—nearly the cost of a new device. A local repair shop could fix it for $150, but the manufacturer refused to sell them the parts or provide the repair manual. This experience is increasingly common across industries:

• Farm equipment owners waiting weeks for authorized technicians during harvest season

• Independent auto repair shops blocked from accessing vehicle diagnostic data

• Medical facilities unable to repair life-saving equipment during emergencies

This repair monopolization has significant consequences:

• Consumers pay an estimated $40 billion annually in premium repair costs

• Small repair businesses struggle to compete against manufacturer restrictions

• Repair jobs and skills disappear from local communities

The Right to Repair Solution

Our proposed federal legislation would establish comprehensive right to repair protections:

Documentation & Information Access

• Require manufacturers to make repair manuals publicly available

• Provide access to schematic diagrams needed for component-level repair

• Release calibration and testing procedures enabling complete repairs

Parts & Tools Availability

• Require diagnostic tool availability to independent repair providers

• Establish standardized parts ordering systems for all repair providers

• Create spare parts production rights after manufacturer discontinuation

• Develop remanufactured parts standards ensuring quality

Software & Digital Rights Protections

• Prohibit software locks preventing repair or parts replacement

• Allow security circumvention explicitly for repair purposes

• Establish digital parts authentication bypasses for repair purposes

Design for Repairability Incentives

• Establish repairability scoring systems for consumer products

• Develop modular design incentives enabling component replacement

• Establish design awards recognizing exemplary repairable products

Enforcement & Implementation Mechanisms

• Authorize FTC enforcement with meaningful penalties

• Establish repair data collection monitoring progress

• Develop international coordination on repair standards

Strategic Implementation Approach

The legislation would phase in requirements gradually, beginning with sectors with established independent repair ecosystems (automotive, electronics, appliances) before expanding to more specialized equipment. Small manufacturers would receive compliance assistance and extended timelines ensuring feasibility for businesses of all sizes.

Our coalition includes consumer advocates, environmental organizations, repair businesses, farmers, medical facilities, educational institutions, and technology experts dedicated to maintaining ownership rights in the digital age.

Your support will help establish a fundamental consumer right increasingly threatened by restrictive business practices—the right to repair and maintain the products we purchase without artificial barriers or excessive costs.