We Are Systematically Advancing Repair
Our members have been effective voices in all corners of government. We've pushed bills through Congress, effectively influenced the US Supreme Court, made sure that the US Copyright Office no longer ignores repair, shamed manufacturers into reversing bad policies, and advanced repair and reuse in standards bodies worldwide.
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act is a federal law governing the intersection of technology and copyright. The DMCA was put in place to stop folks from pirating music, movies, and software programs. The law was designed to regulate the brave new world of digital content, awarding special copyright rules to digital creations.
But the law is outdated—it was passed in 1998. That’s the same year Google filed for incorporation, Apple introduced the iMac, and at that time, only 42% of households in the US had a computer. Technology has changed dramatically since then, but the DMCA has not. That’s no good—because once companies slap software into a physical object, the rules of ownership change. You’re no longer an owner. You’re a licensee.
Today, electronics are embedded in just about everything we buy—umbrellas, pregnancy tests, hairbrushes. Everything is powered by tiny computers … and those computers are powered by software … and that software is copyrighted. So that smart hairbrush you bought your girlfriend (or yourself) for Christmas is protected by the same law that criminalizes music piracy. You don’t really own that hairbrush. The manufacturer does—because they own the software. So, if you think about it, software gets the same protections as A Farewell to Arms.
The Repair Association is systematically fixing this with petitions to the United States Copyright Office every three years, and we’ve successfully won the right to fix tractors, video game consoles, unlock cellphones, and more.
Google, the world’s dominant advertising giant and search engine, has entirely shut off online advertisements for third-party repair services on its platforms. This issue deserves scrutiny. Repair shops who cannot find customers cannot help them, regardless of their access to manuals or parts.
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Our extensive report details how technology companies are standing in the way of stronger green electronics standards.
We know -- its hard to find new product reviews that talk about repair, but there are tell-tale signs of trouble ahead if you do a bit of research before buying.
Parts: Search the manufacturer website for parts availability for the model you are considering. No parts? Red Flag.
Contracts: Search the manufacturer website for copies of the purchase agreement warranty agreement and End User License Agreement. Hard to find? Red Flag.
Support: Check the manufacturer website for their service and support options. If the only option is to ship the item to the manufacturer - thats a red flag as well.
Monopolies that are earned through excellence are not damaged – but those that are maintained by preventing competition are illegal under the law.
Warranty-void-if-removed stickers are illegal, and we’re crusading to get them removed from products everywhere.
We’ve been in front of the FDA not just for the “Nixing the Fix” Study but consistently pushing for more engagement in protecting consumers from violations of current law.