Right to Repair

Abstract Concerns over the carbon footprint resulting from the manufacturing, usage and disposal of hardware have been growing. The right-to-repair legislation was introduced to promote sustainable utilisation of hardware by encouraging stakeholders to prolong the lifetime of products, such as electronic devices. As there is little empirical evidence from a consumer perspective on exercising the right to repair, this study aims firstly to examine the factors that underpin consumers’ intention to repair their hardware and secondly to investigate the perceived outcomes of repair practices. Based on 510 responses, the results showed that intention to repair is dependent on three groups of factors, namely the facilitators of pro-environmental behaviour, repair-related factors and beliefs about legislation. If consumers have a stronger intention to repair, they have a stronger feeling of emotional self-assurance, satisfaction with the repair decision and the technology manufacturer, an intention to engage with the manufacturer and a positive perception of a repaired device’s performance. The findings contribute to the literature on sustainable behaviour and the right to repair, offering insight for policymakers and manufacturers about the strategies facilitating the wider adoption of repair practices.

Over the past several years there has been a growing movement aimed at guaranteeing consumers the right to repair their products themselves after purchasing them, as opposed to paying original equipment manufacturers to repair the devices. Advocacy groups have successfully convinced state legislators to introduce these "Right to Repair " bills around the country, however none have successfully been enacted as law. These bills have been met with a mix of apathy from legislators and staunch resistance from corporations who have a vested interest in limiting the availability of repair options. Although there have been recent exemptions added to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the existing framework of copyright law and enforcement in the United States is insufficient to protect consumers' right to do what they will with their products. Through End User License Agreements and other contracts, companies are effectively able to limit the right to repair via contract even if there were to be a drastic overhaul of our current copyright system. This Note argues that Congress should adopt legislation requiring companies to facilitate the repair process and should incorporate a "degree of reparability" requirement in the legislation to ensure the ability to repair remains an option for most consumers.

The right-to-repair movement is a consumer rights movement that supports people’s freedom to repair and customize their gadgets, such as smartphones. To make diagnostic tools, repair manuals, and replacement parts available to the public, the movement continues to push for laws requiring manufacturers to do so. The movement, supported by legislation, is gaining traction as a fundamental human right. On the other hand, the right-to-repair movement received different responses from smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, Google, and Nokia. This article describes the evolving market conditions and examines how various brands have reacted to the recent global tide. The article contributes to the efforts toward United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on several accounts since right-to-repair laws help reduce electronic waste and promote sustainable consumption.