The hottest Right-to-repair Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Week in Repair: Jan 11-18

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 20 Jan 22
💼 Business Right-to-repair Legislation Sustainability E-Waste
  1. Farmers are taking legal action against John Deere for breaking federal anti-trust laws.
  2. Consumer advocates push for a 'repair instead of throw away' principle in the EU to reduce electronic waste.
  3. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is challenging the DMCA to protect the 'Right to Repair,' focusing on the free speech aspect of repair restrictions.

Fight to Repair Weekly: Week of October 31, 2022

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 03 Nov 22
🕹 Technology Right-to-repair Legislation Activism Environment Antitrust
  1. All eyes are on New York Governor Kathy Hochul as the Digital Fair Repair Act awaits her signature, passing overwhelmingly in the Legislature.
  2. Albany's Times Union urges Governor Hochul to sign the right to repair bill despite lobbying efforts from special interests.
  3. Farmers face barriers to repair equipment due to restrictions on accessing repair tools, as highlighted in an opinion piece supporting the right to repair.

Fight to Repair Daily: Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 22 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Repairability Legislation Circular Economy Cybersecurity Right-to-repair
  1. A long-ignored federal law, the Robinson-Patman Act, could help protect small businesses from the market dominance of big players like Amazon and Walmart by prohibiting price discrimination.
  2. Framework Computer is introducing a Chromebook that is fully upgradeable, repairable, and customizable, addressing the right-to-repair movement's concerns over modern laptop design.
  3. NIST is awarding funding to universities to develop educational programs focused on establishing a circular economy for plastics, aiming to reduce plastic waste through reuse, repair, and recycling.

With senate vote, Right to Repair moves forward in Massachusetts

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 22 Jul 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Right-to-repair Economic Development Advocacy
  1. A slimmed-down version of an electronics right to repair bill passed the state senate in Massachusetts, part of a larger economic development bill.
  2. The fate of the amendment now rests in negotiations between the Massachusetts House and Senate over the scope of a final compromise bill that would be voted on by both chambers.
  3. The amendment would create a legal right to repair 'portable wireless devices' in Massachusetts, defined as products designed to send and receive cellular transmissions.

Fight to Repair Daily: July 20, 2022

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 20 Jul 22
🕹 Technology Repairability Right-to-repair Software Open Source Antitrust
  1. AirPods repair advocate modified AirPods with a USB-C port for increased repairability, offering free access to 3D printing and PCB files.
  2. iFixit is expanding its operations with a new service facility and warehouse in Chattanooga, TN, aiming to create over 200 jobs in the next five years.
  3. Actions are being taken to prevent copyright and software rules from hindering the right to repair by ensuring access to repair information and addressing limitations created by design rules.
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The Week in Repair: Dec 6-12

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 14 Dec 21
🕹 Technology Repair Right-to-repair Electronics Environmental Impact Circular Economy
  1. Activists worldwide are pushing for the 'right to repair' movement to combat expensive and environmentally damaging obsolescence of electronics and appliances.
  2. Big companies like John Deere and Facebook are being called out for restricting repair options, while others like Microsoft and iFixit are working to make repair tools more accessible.
  3. Efforts are being made to make products more repairable, reduce e-waste, and shift towards a circular economy model for environmental, financial, and supply chain benefits.

Week in Repair: News Highlights

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 03 Dec 21
🕹 Technology Tech news Right-to-repair Antitrust E-Waste Legislation
  1. Apple is planning to phase out older iPhone models like the iPhone 6 Plus, with a leaked report suggesting a move towards augmented reality devices by 2032.
  2. President Biden's economic advisers believe that the antitrust agenda will lead to economic growth by focusing on local business growth, worker wages, and right-to-repair rules for products like medical devices and tractors.
  3. Regulation may be necessary to tackle built-in obsolescence in printers and address the challenges of ownership as devices transition into services, with right-to-repair laws gaining momentum globally.

FTC’s Vote Shows Right to Repair’s Bipartisan Face

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 25 Jul 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bipartisan Right-to-repair Regulation Consumer Rights
  1. FTC's vote on right to repair had bipartisan support from 3 Democrats and 2 Republicans, indicating a shift in political unity on consumer issues.
  2. The FTC is moving to target repair restrictions that violate antitrust laws and unfair practices, showing a commitment to promoting open repair markets.
  3. The bipartisan consensus on right to repair is a significant step in reigning in concentrations of corporate power in various sectors like agriculture and healthcare.

The Repair Angle In Wired’s Big McDonalds Ice Cream Expose

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 06 Jun 21
🕹 Technology Repair Internet of Things Right-to-repair Tech startups Podcasts
  1. Wired's article on McDonald's ice cream machines highlights the importance of the right to repair.
  2. The investigation revealed how obscure machine errors and lack of access to repair options can lead to unfair business practices by manufacturers.
  3. Jeremy O'Sullivan's experience with ice cream kiosks and Kytch's IoT analytics startup sheds light on challenges in the repair industry.

FTC Report Slams OEM Restrictions on Repair

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 07 May 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Legislation Consumer Rights Right-to-repair
  1. FTC strongly supports the legal right to repair, criticizing repair restrictions by various manufacturers.
  2. The FTC's report found no evidence to justify manufacturers' repair restrictions, debunking claims of safety risks and cybersecurity concerns.
  3. The report is a significant win for right-to-repair advocates, offering hope for potential future legislative action and enforcement of existing laws.

Deere is ducking free software responsibilities. Also: advocates pan EU right to repair rules

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 23 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Open Source Right-to-repair Electronic Devices
  1. Groups are pressuring John Deere to comply with open-source code sharing rules, emphasizing the importance of transparency in software modifications.
  2. The proposed EU right to repair law is being criticized by advocates for not going far enough in promoting repair over replacement and addressing anti-repair practices.
  3. Source code sharing is crucial for innovation, especially in areas like farming equipment where it could lead to more accessible repair solutions and cost-effective operations.

Should indie medical-device techs have the ‘right to repair’?

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 17 Apr 21
🏥 Health Politics Medical Devices Right-to-repair Regulations Healthcare system
  1. Skilled technicians struggle with repairs due to lack of documentation, tools, and parts, causing delays for device users.
  2. Independent technicians lack legal leverage to access tools and resources necessary to repair medical devices like wheelchairs and insulin pumps.
  3. The FDA and FTC have supported right-to-repair policies for medical devices, emphasizing the importance of technicians in maintaining the healthcare system.