long story short
- The US state of Oregon has signed a new right-to-repair bill into law.
- The law is the toughest yet, prohibiting common anti-repair practices by manufacturers.
- This could set an important precedent for consumer rights to technology repairs.
Oregon just signed into law the strongest right-to-repair bill yet, banning anti-repair practices common among big tech manufacturers. This will make smartphone and tech gadget repairs easier and cheaper in the state.
Oregon’s SB 1596 follows similar laws in Minnesota and California that require consumer electronics manufacturers to provide equipment operators with fair access to tools, repair documentation and parts.
Oregon’s new law applies to electronics manufactured before 2015, including laptops, smartwatches, tablets, refrigerators and more. However, it specifically leaves out medical equipment, agricultural equipment, equipment that runs internal combustion engines and video game consoles.
Why it matters to consumers
As we’ve covered before, what’s unique about Oregon’s new law is that starting in 2025, it also prohibits “parts matching,” or software restrictions that prevent/limit the use of third-party parts in repairs.
For decades, big tech companies like Apple have blocked the use of parts that haven’t been approved by the company itself, often completely blocking or severely limiting functionality when using third-party parts.
The passage of the new law sets an important precedent for the right-to-repair movement, as it could open the door to the growth of third-party parts manufacturing, which ultimately means more choices and cheaper repair costs for consumers.
Additionally, making it easier to repair and reuse electronics can reduce e-waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and the use of raw materials associated with manufacturing new products.