Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed the state's Right to Repair Act, which will require manufacturers to provide repair options and prevent them from implementing software locks that prohibit aftermarket or used parts from being installed in their devices, making it the first in the nation to target that practice. The law, effective from 2025, is similar to those in New York, California, and Minnesota, but goes further by banning parts pairing or serialization. Apple opposed the bill for its parts-pairing ban, while Consumer Reports, which lobbied and testified in support of the bill, stated that the repair laws passed in four states now cover nearly 70 million people.
Google has partnered with iFixit to sell official replacement parts and tools for the Pixel 8 series, facilitating at-home repairs. This move supports the right-to-repair movement and aims to extend the longevity of the devices in line with Google's promise of seven years of OS upgrades. While commonly replaced parts like screens and batteries are available, some components, such as the motherboard, are not, limiting the full potential of self-service repairs. The initiative also promotes environmental sustainability by reducing e-waste and offers a more affordable repair option for consumers. Despite the availability of parts, official Google repairs and independent shops remain relevant for those less inclined to DIY repairs.
As more devices run on software, manufacturers are exerting more control over their products even after the customer has taken them home. Companies force customers to use their repair services, disabling the product if they try to fix it themselves. In other instances, corporations require people to pay for ongoing subscriptions to access basic features of the goods. Consumers and policymakers can push back on this corporate attempt to redefine what it means to "own" a product by passing right-to-repair legislation, clarifying that repair isn't a copyright crime, and cracking down on toxic legal terms put into user license agreements.
Tesla has been hit with two proposed antitrust class actions alleging that the company unlawfully curbs competition for maintenance and replacement parts for its electric vehicles, forcing owners to pay more and wait longer for repair services. The lawsuits call for Tesla's repair services and parts monopoly to be "dismantled" and for the company to be ordered to make its repair manuals and diagnostic tools "available to individuals and independent repair shops at a reasonable cost." The proposed class in both cases would include anyone who has paid Tesla for repairs or parts since March 2019, and the potential class includes hundreds of thousands of Tesla owners and lessees, so damages could total hundreds of millions of dollars.
