The Economic Times
Repair companies, consumers fight hard to end manufacturers monopoly over repair of devices
A few decades ago, you could take your newest piece of technology, be it a TV or tractor, to the repair shop of your choice, or try to fix it yourself. That's usually no longer the case, as hardware increasingly comes loaded with copyrighted software.
To varying degrees, many of the world's biggest electronics manufacturers limit access to the information and equipment necessary for do-it-yourself maintenance and repairs.Appledoesn't publish repair manuals or sell parts to customers, and its warranty doesn't apply if unauthorized repair damages its device.Samsungwouldn't say why it doesn't share repair information, though it makes some parts available to shops.
EvenJohn Deeregives only approved technicians access to the embedded software that controls systems in its machines. The manufacturers argue these limitations keep products working safely, and that copyright law lets them protect theirintellectual propertyso it isn't pirated.
"Bulls--t," saysGay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the Digital Right toRepair Coalition, based in North Haledon, N.J. "Repair is a profit center for a lot of companies, and sometimes it is more profitable than selling hardware." Maintaining "repair monopolies," she says, pushes up costs and makes customers more likely to simply junk old models for new ones. Apple charges $79 to replace aniPhone4 battery.
Repair website IFixit charges $20 for a battery and DIY kit for the same job. $20 IFixit's price for an iPhone 4 battery and DIY kit, one fourth what Apple charges to replace one Gordon-Byrne's organisation and advocates such as theElectronic Frontier Foundationare supporting bills introduced this year in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York that would require manufacturers to sell parts and provide manuals to hardware owners and independent repair shops.
Separate efforts in Congress would amend the federal Digital Millennium Copy right Act by giving explicit permission for consumers to circumvent a manufacturer's digital lock on its software for a lawful reason such as repair. "The problem isn't current law, but lack of law," says Gordon-Byrne. Until consumer rights are clearly legislated, "Manufacturers have carte blanche to limit anything they wish."
Massachusetts' bill is due for a hearing on Sept 22, and the Minnesota bill's sponsors are meeting in October to discuss similar legal language with the state environmental agency. New York's version was considered by the state senate's rules committee but wasn't brought for a vote before the legislative session ended in June, so it's on hold at least until lawmakers reconvene in January. This needs to happen," says Minnesota state senatorDavid Osmek, a co-sponsor of that state's bill.Hardware makers "can be part of the solution or not have a seat at the policy table."