New York State Passes First-Ever 'Right To Repair' Law For Electronics (theverge.com) 38
The New York state legislature has passed the United States' first "right to repair" bill covering electronics. The Verge reports: Called the Fair Repair Act, the measure would require all manufacturers who sell "digital electronic products" within state borders to make tools, parts, and instructions for repair available to both consumers and independent shops. Having passed the legislature, it is awaiting signature by Governor Kathy Hochul, who is expected to support the measure. The measure will take effect one year after it passes into law.
Self-repair groups like iFixit have applauded the ruling, calling it "one giant leap for repairkind" in a blog post following the announcement. "The passage of this bill means that repairs should become less expensive and more comprehensive: people who want to fix their own stuff can," the post reads. "Where before, manufacturers could push consumers to use manufacturer-authorized shops, now they'll have to compete."
Self-repair groups like iFixit have applauded the ruling, calling it "one giant leap for repairkind" in a blog post following the announcement. "The passage of this bill means that repairs should become less expensive and more comprehensive: people who want to fix their own stuff can," the post reads. "Where before, manufacturers could push consumers to use manufacturer-authorized shops, now they'll have to compete."
Saints be praised! (Score:3)
Hopefully more states will follow suit, and new York didn't succumb to lobbying pressure.
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It is interesting how much of the thing is personified in him.
In essence how one mans crusade against the wind mills got others to follow, until there was enough mass for politicians to have to take note.
I know many others were involved in the process, but still I think that without his dedication for years and years the ting would at least have taken even longer.
Interesting! (Score:2)
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Hundreds of companies make superglue, it's not patented. But I do not see super glue being used that much.
I could see a boom in repair shops. Already a lot of places do things like replace screens. Or better yet, buy it stores.
Frankly a ton of electronic gets thrown out because it takes more time to diagnosis something than to be worth fixing it. But if you can buy stuff for $10, spend an hour to fix it and sell it for even $50, that becomes worth it for someone to do.
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More like buy some some stuff for $10, spend $50 to rent the tools, spend $50 for manufacturer qualified spare parts, spend half a day to fix it, and then sell it for $100. And come out $10 in the hole, not including how much you value your time.
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Uhm, you describe a high school idiot trying to start a business, not a competent repair shop.
Real repair men
a) buys the tools for $100 and uses it for 3 or more jobs a year.
b) never spends more money for a "manufacturer qualified spare parts" then they spend to buy a broken piece of equipment. You buy 2 broken units and use one to repair the other. Entire business model of a vehicle Junk Yard.
c) Go Big or never get int the business to begin with. You do not do this as a hobby, economies of scale matter
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Well, Apple's tools for iPhone 12/13 cost at least $1200 for the custom set. That is the deposit they require to rent them.
And if I give my phone to you to replace the battery, I expect a NEW battery. Not some old one you found in another phone.
Apple right to repair video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
No, but epoxy resin might (Score:2)
I agree, super glue probably wouldn't be used much, but I could see a company making its products deliberately unrepairable by anybody via liberal use of epoxy resin inside the case. They could even argue that by doing so they're making it "water resistant".
Finally! (Score:4, Insightful)
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Yes, when a big state in US imposes rules on something, it affects the whole country. We have seen it often with California, but New York is big enough to have same effect.
As for farmers, it is a separate fight that has to do with strange things like farmers interest group being against it is Nebraska and such..
Great,finally! (Score:2)
Hope they extend RTR soon to farm machinery.
Now if anyone has read the bill, can you say if it is a good bill with shark teeth, or a bad bill full of loopholes the manufacturer can exploit?
For example, is it full of stupid loopholes like for example, "the manufacturer can refuse to provide the necessary repair tools and instructions if the manufacturer considers repair of product Y or componentX to be a high risk of injury or death to non-certified repairmen. "
Even if, it's a great start to get the ball ro
Re: Great,finally! (Score:3)
John Deere. Google it.
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Lots of other fields besides consumer electronics have started the same path towards not being user repairable.
Farming equipment is a specially outrageous example of expensive and SLOW repairs by manufacturer.
Will Apple comply? (Score:2)
Will Apple comply or will they stop selling in NY?
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Nobody is going to turn their back on NY, CA, TX, or any of the really big states, unless they were to go full commie or something. That is less likely than Apple sending everyone an iPony for their birthdays.
rossmann repair group may to deal with DMCA (Score:2)
rossmann repair group may to deal with DMCA issues and stuff unless they can get an on staff $150K/year+ legal staff to deal with apples million dollar legal team
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They are starting to. But be careful what you ask for: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Most home (or even professional shops) don't have the special tools to do the work.
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They already have. They supply the tools (you can buy them all or rent them), the parts (and you can either keep the old part, or return it back to Apple where they will refund you a bit of money).
Of course, the trick is, all the tools are Apple-specific and from what Apple techs have said, are the same tools that they use.
The other thing is, how long do people have to keep making parts available? Because if you want to replace a battery and the manufacturer
Re: Will Apple comply? (Score:2)
Yeah, stop making parts very quickly is exactly why my Sony TV is impossible to repair, even though it has a very minor fault in just one chip. I don't need a new "smarter" (mostly: more invasive) tv, I want one that looks good and shows what I want to see. Which the current one does.
Great for phones! Less great for tractors :( (Score:3)
I fully expect to see videos of taxi drivers honking at tractors parked outside Rossmann's place. Ah quintessential New York.
Califonia Too Corrupted to Pass Such a Law (Score:1)
Whatâ(TM)s good for the rich (Score:2)
Exemplary activism by Louis Rossman (Score:2)
Well fucking done and proof motivated individuals can make a difference.
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Yes, it is very interesting case study of a movement built up by few people and opposed by big lobby groups, that still manages to get enough of support that the politicians have to take note.
Re: Exemplary activism by Louis Rossman (Score:2)
See also Clair Patterson [wikipedia.org] for another story like this.
I support right to repair, except... (Score:3)
Same goes for John Deere. You want to repair your own John Deere tractor? Absolutely you should be able to. But.. when you bypass a motor restrictor circuit because you saw it done by some Florida Man on the internet, reach deep into the engine, the engine turns over, your arm gets removed at the shoulder, then the tractor bursts into flames and doesn't even bother to apologize, John Deere Inc is NOT RESPONSIBLE for the slag heap that was once your tractor. Or your medical bills.
Right-to-repair. Deep, comprehensive warranty coverage and manufacturer liability. You can have one of these. Not both. Choose wisely.
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Yes, that is common sense. Any problems caused by repair should be covered by the ones doing the repairs, not the manufacturer.
(I know common sense does not always apply in law... but still)
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once "Jim Bob's cow-slaughtering and independent repair shop" goes to town on a highly sensitive electronic device with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch, the MANUFACTURER WARRANTY BECOMES VOID. Yes, Apple should be required to sell or rent, at a fair cost, the parts, tools, and equipment required for repair. They should NOT be required to provide free warranty-covered repair or replacement on the pile of shattered parts that remain after Jim Bob gives up on the device and goes out for whisky.
Same goes for John Deere. You want to repair your own John Deere tractor? Absolutely you should be able to. But.. when you bypass a motor restrictor circuit because you saw it done by some Florida Man on the internet, reach deep into the engine, the engine turns over, your arm gets removed at the shoulder, then the tractor bursts into flames and doesn't even bother to apologize, John Deere Inc is NOT RESPONSIBLE for the slag heap that was once your tractor. Or your medical bills.
Right-to-repair. Deep, comprehensive warranty coverage and manufacturer liability. You can have one of these. Not both. Choose wisely.
Wrong. I mean you couldn't be more wrong if you were aiming directly at wrong with less than 10 paces.
Warranties are limited and of course, void if breached. Part of these conditions are that if the manufacturer limits where a device can be repaired then the manufacturer is then legally on the hook to repair it in a timely fashion.
Statuory warranties in the US, EU and UK is 1 year, in other countries it may be different (I.E. in Australia it's 2). Manufacturers may offer longer warranties, but this re
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Exempts appliances, med devices and Ag equipment (Score:2)
The language of the New York bill does include exceptions for home appliances, medical devices, and agricultural equipment — the last of which has been a particular flash point for advocates.
Not the first (Score:1)