Fight to Repair Weekly: November, 28 2022
EU’s new repair rules for electronics fall short. And: Samsung looks to expand DIY repair with an app. Also: billboard calls out NY Governor on repair bill delay.
Internship: want to join the fight to repair?
Are you passionate about the right to repair and sustainability issues? Are you experienced (or just interested) in researching and writing? Do you know your way around social media platforms or have experience with audio and video editing? If so, we could use you on our team! Fight to Repair Newsletter is looking for a part time, paid editorial intern to help us expand our coverage of the right to repair and continue turning out high quality content for our subscribers. If you’re interested, shoot us an email at:
paul (at) fighttorepair (dot) news
EU adds new repair rules for phones + tablets
In an effort to draw a doubt the environmental impact that devices like smart phones tablets, and the like have our ecosystems, the European Union is implementing co-design rules for electronic devices.
While this is absolutely movement toward the right to repair – advocates believe it fall short of a true “right to repair” needed to extend the life of devices the point they believe necessary to avoid environmental destruction
A leaked document is showing a number of forthcoming policy changes for Europe, including the following:
Parts + Information: Access to necessary parts and guidance on how devices should be repaired will become a requirement for seven years.
Software updates: Digital maintenance of devices will be required for at least five years following the “retiring” of a device – though nothing is mentioned about throttling.
Durability: Requirements for battery capacity over time as well as with standing everyday use such as accidental drops.
Repair labeling: Similar to France’s Repairability Index, the labeling of devices would offer consumers information on the effort and cost associated with repairs.
Right to Repair Europe, an advocacy organization, focused on repair in the EU, believes that in order to achieve the objectives of the EU’s Green Deal there need to be stronger policies in place. Their major critiques include:
Parts/Information requirements are weak: Information on spare part pricing needs to be more specific to include things like taxes, given how important pricing is when it comes to the adoption of repair.
Software shenanigans: These rules have nothing to say about part-pairing, the practice companies to render devices in operable. Through this tactic they can lock down your phone if you change a component, such as home button or a broken camera.
These are no doubt good changes that will keep devices in peoples hands for longer, and out of landfills where they can spill toxic chemicals into the earth. However, given the urgency of the ecological problems we face because of our consumption – a sense of urgency is needed that isn’t captured in these policy changes.
“While having initial repairability rules for these products is a first important step, we regret a missed opportunity to introduce rules granting people a true Right to repair.”
- Ugo Vallari, Policy Lead @ The Restart Project
Other News
Samsung looks to expand self-repair: the electronics giant filed a trademark application in the US that suggests the company is working on a new mobile app called ‘Self Repair Assistant’ that would assist customers in repairing their devices, SAMMobile reports. The filing also suggests that Samsung could add tablets and earbuds to the list of its personal electronic devices designed for DIY repairs.
Apple using patents to restrict repair: As Samsung looks to boost repairability, its chief competitor Apple is going in the other direction. The tech behemoth is asking for a US judge to rule that patents should come with a "service and repair carve-out” to ensure they can monopolize repair over their products.
Plus: They were caught lobbying the EU Commission’s cabinet Vice President of digital policy to curb ecodesign regulations.
Billboard calls out NY Governor Hochul on repair: A new billboard, courtesy of iFixit, has been put up on NY Governor Hochul’s way to work to remind her about the right to repair bill sitting on her desk.
Schematics: I knew thee! Hackaday (one of our favorite sites) has a nice walk down memory lane looking at the many sources for device schematics and replacement parts that repair professionals once enjoyed and lamenting the demise of fixable stuff.
Telecom companies want disposable phones: Wireless company Manx Telecom has been caught pushing customers to toss their devices even before they break.
Congresswoman says R2R is consensus issue: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, the newly elected representative of Washington’s 3rd district is making right to repair a central issue of her platform – saying the issue is a common-sense even amongst the country’s ideological divide.
Opinion – digital tractors are dooming us: Mark Daniels of Rural News argues that hackers and companies have the ability able to “wreak havoc” on farmers
Our thought bubble: There is no security in obscurity. If Deere can’t keep its customers safe, why should they lock out farmers to “protect” them from security flaws?
BMW charging extra for speed: Critics are piling on the German car maker for making customers buy a software subscription to get their car higher speeds.
E-bike repair: The rising popularity of battery powered e-bikes means that batteries should be easily replaced, but that isn’t the case due to product design and repair ecosystems.
Resources, Events, and Opportunities
Virtual Event: Repair Economy Summit 2022: "Repair. Reuse. Resilience." registration is now live. The event is being held on December 12th and 13th from 4-7pm (PST). Get your tickets here.
Photo of the Week
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has something to look at on her way to work at the NY Governor’s Mansion: a billboard calling on her to sign the nation’s first electronics right to repair bill into law. As noted by PIRG, the billboard in Albany was paid for by iFixit and calls on the governor to sign the Digital Fair Repair Act into law. The bill must make its way to the governor by the end of the year, and be signed by January 10 in order to become law.
