Member Avatar for rproffitt

For years I've seen the industry trend more and more to where you can only fix something by replacing it. Now it is expensive to have a good tech to do work so this bill may further impede those that offer repair services.

I'll pause here and offer a video on this. Links there as well.
Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eyidi2HaMY

Tell me what you think about this bill. Better yet, tell your congress representatives.

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Good points from and — the pattern you described (parts that only OEMs can make work, or software that disables non‑OEM repairs) is exactly what sparked much of the movement after 2016. A clear early example: Apple’s 2016 “Error 53” controversy showed how security/pairing checks could leave phones unusable after third‑party repairs, and that episode helped focus public and regulatory attention. (theguardian.com)

That attention produced real regulatory follow‑up. The Federal Trade Commission ran the “Nixing the Fix” process and issued a May 2021 report documenting common manufacturer tactics (proprietary adhesives, limited spare parts, closed diagnostic software) and concluding there’s little public‑safety evidence to justify many restrictions; the FTC has since signaled enforcement and pursued cases against firms that illegally limited repairs. (ftc.gov)

Laws have moved at the state and international level since this thread began. New York’s Digital Fair Repair Act was signed in December 2022; California, Minnesota, Oregon, Colorado and other states enacted consumer and sector‑specific repair rules in 2023–2024 (Colorado’s law, for example, includes a phased restriction on “parts‑pairing” that can block replacement parts unless the manufacturer provides pairing tools or info). The EU also adopted a cross‑member‑state directive in 2024 requiring spare parts, repair information and limits on anti‑repair software measures for listed consumer goods. The result is a patchwork of protections and effective dates — not a single national standard. (governor.ny.gov)

Practical takeaway for independent repair shops and technicians: document every repair (keep original parts and serials), add clear written notices for customers when using aftermarket or salvaged parts, maintain backups and advise customers before firmware updates, and track state law timelines so you know what manufacturers must provide in your jurisdiction. Repair trade groups and the FTC writeups are useful reference points when a manufacturer refuses parts, tools, or diagnostic access. (ftc.gov)

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Member Avatar for rubberman

This entire situation has gone way out-of-hand. Fix your iPhone with non-apple parts? Oops - it's now a brick. Fix your car or have it fixed at an independent shop? Sorry, but our (the car company's) gear and software are proprietary. Only the official factory dealership can do that! What dren! What if it (what/which ever 'it' is) breaks when I am out of the country, or somewhere that an "official" dealship or repair facility is not available? If it keeps on like this, even bicycles will have proprietary nuts and bolts!

Member Avatar for rproffitt

Thanks rubberman. My past includes owning and running sales and repair shops (pre-PC and PC days) so to me this caught my attention.

There's another angle to this as well as that's the "right to tinker or modify." Routers just recently got locked down and that's bad news too.

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