As right-to-repair laws take effect in states like New York, California, and Minnesota, consumers now have the legal right to repair their own electronic devices. These laws require manufacturers to make repair materials—such as manuals and spare parts—available to the public. However, the transition has been anything but smooth, with many tech companies slow to comply.
Repair advocates argue that these laws are crucial in combating the culture of digital disposability, which contributes to environmental harm through e-waste and excessive resource consumption. Yet, compliance has varied widely across industries, with smartphone makers leading the way while companies producing digital cameras and VR headsets lag behind.
The challenges are compounded by loopholes in the legislation. For example, if a company offers no repair support, it isn’t legally required to start. Additionally, practices like parts pairing, where specific parts must be paired with devices using proprietary software, further complicate repairs. While Oregon and Colorado’s upcoming laws will ban such practices, tech giants like Apple have resisted these changes, only recently making minor concessions.
Enforcement remains a key issue. Although no state has yet taken legal action against non-compliant companies, the threat of fines and reputational damage looms large. As more states adopt stronger right-to-repair laws, the pressure on tech giants to adapt will only intensify.
