The Week in Repair: March 6-12
Who owns Tesla vehicle data? Also: PIRG releases repair scores for laptops and cellphones and more waiting for ruling in Massachusetts automotive Right to Repair case.
Here are the top right to repair stories from the week of March 6 through March 12.
Who owns Tesla Vehicle Data? That may be the wrong question.
Who owns the data generated by a Tesla: the vehicle’s owner or Tesla? Mike Nelson, who has decades of legal experience in insurance and regulatory matters, and whose technology startup is specifically engaged in interpreting vehicle performance data (VPD) from Teslas, said that while the question persists for all types of car data, “it’s almost not the right way to think about it.”
“Ownership is just one facet,” he said. “Other facets are, ‘Who has access to it? How much of it can be accessed? Can it be repurposed? Can it be passed on to anybody else? How is it used?” (insurancejournal.com)
Facing breakdowns and slow repairs, Mass. wheelchair users call for stronger state law
Wheelchair users in the Bay State are suffering long waits for service and repair, with few legal protections. Advocates are pushing for changes to State law, but face pushback from the wheelchair industry. (wbur.org)
It’s time to support your right to fix America’s vehicles
Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly using a range of tactics, like patent thickets, controlling telematics data, position statements, repair procedures and trademarks, to force repair shops and dealerships to use OEM parts and to steer more business to their preferred repair networks. These practices not only severely limit consumer choice, but cause economic ripple effects for businesses nationwide. (autobodynews.com)
In Montana: Fixit Clinic offers sustainable way to fix broken items
Home Resource is holding a fixit clinic this Saturday at University of Montana. The clinics offer a way for the Missoula community to sustainably fix broken items from clothing to furniture, to lamps, opting out of buying something new or throwing the items away.
“A fixit clinic is one of my favorite programs,” said Michelle Barton, zero waste education manager. “There is a whole movement happening, exercising your right to repair, and it's a space where skilled volunteers and community members can come in and bring their broken stuff.” (nbcmontana.com)
📚 Repair Resource – RepairMyStuff.ie
Our mission is to support, promote and encourage a repair industry in Ireland. Why? It makes environmental and financial sense. Simply put, we think that if people knew how and where to get products repaired they would. So not only is this a directory, consider it a guide to repairing and reusing in Ireland, and it's FREE.
This directory aims to make it easier for the consumer to avail of the many great repair services throughout the country. Simply search what you want repaired and where in the country you are. Whilst we don't have all the country covered, we are busy working on it. Hopefully, you will be provided with a number of options. (repairmystuff.ie)
Microsoft, Apple and Google get poor scores in hardware repairability report
Hardware tools from Apple, Google, Microsoft and Apple have come out with low grades in a new repairability report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG) Education Fund, which covers the repairability of 187 devices from 10 vendors.
U.S. PIRG Education Fund aims to provide US consumers with a single report covering multiple devices and 10 manufacturers using information from France's repairability index. The French repairability index is available via web pages for smartphones and laptops, in similar format to iFixit's repairability scores. (zdnet.com)
Lawsuits, legislation spur growing federal 'Right to Repair' debate
Debates over whether farmers should be able to repair their high-tech machinery on their own that once raged in state legislatures are now spilling into the halls of Congress, the White House and courtrooms across the U.S.
The “right to repair” movement that began in independent automobile repair shops in the early 2000s has picked up momentum in the agricultural industry as producers and advocates insist manufacturers hold too firm a grip over the tools farmers and third-party mechanics need to repair high-tech farm equipment. (agri-pulse.com)
Repair, Reuse, and Economic Growth in America
Recent policy and entrepreneurial developments point to further expansion and deepening of the reuse sector. Right to Repair Laws are current in 20 states. A Right to Repair Law was passed in MA by a large margin. These laws will stimulate a massive return to self-help and small business repair enterprises for tractors, cars, appliances and electronic games as the parts, tools and knowledge in the form of manuals become available. The repair and reuse of computer repair can add value up to twenty-five times the value of the initial investment.9 The Right to Repair, and ReUSE Minnesota, track the efforts of activists in the repair and reuse sector. (ilsr.org)
Right to repair bill reintroduced, which would benefit all consumers
I understand that manufacturers want to protect their investments, but where do we draw line and at what cost to the consumer? Despite my layman’s understanding of finer political maneuverings, it seems that whether it be for a vehicle, farm tractor, cellphone or even refrigerator, being able to seek out repair alternatives is beneficial for all consumers. (theglobeandmail.com)
Online Event: Make Magazine’s War on Repair
This Thursday, March 10, we’re hosting a Zoom event to celebrate the release of our newest issue, all about Right to Repair. The 90-minute gathering will run through the content in the issue, and give readers a chance to connect with the authors and each other. Grab a snack, come see your friends, and bring some questions! The event will include discussions with the leading repair experts that have contributed to the magazine, including:
Cory Doctorow (author and journalist)
Kyle Wiens (iFixit)
Nathan Proctor (US PIRG)
Peter Mui (Fixit Clinic)
Wayne Seltzer (Boulder U-Fixit Clinic)
Debra Daun (Joliet Junior College)
OEMs Will Have To Wait Another Month for Decision In Massachusetts Right to Repair Case
After receiving further evidence from the parties in January 2022, Judge Woodlock had previously advised the parties that he expected to issue a decision by March 7, 2022. In his latest order, however, Judge Woodlock advised the parties that “unforeseen and unforeseeable circumstances, principally involving supervening but insistent writing responsibilities in other matters,” had prevented him from being able to meet his self-imposed deadline,” but assured them that by April 15, 2022 he anticipated being able to issue a “fully satisfactory opinion . . . bringing this case at last to an appealable final judgment.” Meanwhile, there has been no action in the Massachusetts Legislature on pending legislation that would push the deadline for OEMs to comply with the Right to Repair Law until Model Year 2025. (jdsupra.com)
⚙️ U.S. PIRG: Grading laptop and cell phone companies on the fixability of their products
Today U.S. PIRG released a new scorecard, “Failing the Fix,” which ranks the most popular cell phone and laptop makers for consumers who seek to purchase easily repairable products – especially those from companies who do not fight to prevent Right to Repair.
No single laptop or cell phone company received a scored an A, and companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft received D's. (uspirg.org)
One year on, has the French repair index kept its promises?
The French repair index came into force on the 1st of January 2021. A world first, it applies to 5 categories of product: smartphones, laptops, washing machines, TVs and lawn mowers.
The French organization HOP analyzed the outcomes of the index, how it affects repairers and how consumers feel about it. Major critiques of the index include:
Index displays scores unevenly and doesn't factor in product type
Increased transparency and stricter controls are needed
Grading system needs to be more ambitious (ex. weight criteria differently, differentiate between product types)
⚡ You Don’t Really Ever Own an EV
Until the late 1980s, a cable on the engine throttle connected directly to the accelerator pedal, giving drivers total control of their engine speed and power. Throttle problems were quick, easy to diagnose, and, more importantly, fixed at home without paying exorbitant mechanic prices.
Cars now use an ETC (electronic throttle control) managed by a computer, as is just about everything else on engines these days. Naturally, this makes vehicles more difficult to repair, not to mention the glaring “right to repair” issue growing by the day when everything runs on a chip. (reviewgeek.com)
Other Repair News...
Will Microsoft Use Activision Blizzard to Freeze Out Rivals? (publicknowledge.org)
What If It Breaks? (charleshughsmith.blogspot.com)
Sign up for Fight to Repair Weekly! (Fight to Repair)
The debate over right to repair in 2022 (agriculture.com)
The right to repair: my car and I are totally there (edn.com)
Five female-run businesses using design to create a waste-free world (positive.news)
21 circular economy solutions: changing how we eat, live and travel for a more sustainable world (weforum.org)
Maryland Committee rejects right to repair (lancasterfarming.com)
Florida ramps up data privacy law for vehicle data (repairdrivennews.com)
What if it breaks? (Wall Street Window)
Sign up for Fight to Repair Weekly! (Fight to Repair)