Fight for your right to repair
Similar software also limits the use of cellphones, cameras, electric tools, cars and other products. It’s digital rights management gone mad, applied to products far beyond the original targets of protection, such as the content on CDs and DVDs. Under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), equipment owners are often prohibited from making repairs to devices with copyrighted software, forced instead to take their equipment to an authorized dealer. Bypassing built-in security voids most warranties and violates the DMCA, which could result in penalties of up to $500,000 in fines and five years in prison.
Both consumers and corporations should be concerned by the repair restrictions placed on digitally controlled products. Consumers, particularly those in the growing maker movement, like to modify equipment and use it in novel ways. But manufacturers have no incentive to accommodate that. In the name of protecting the integrity of their brands, they limit repair options to authorized dealers. That drives independent repair companies out of business, resulting in higher repair costs. For example, Apple charges $70 to install a new iPhone 4 battery although a new battery with DIY instructions is available for $20 on the Web.
To improve the situation, consumers and businesses need to do the following:
Equipment manufacturers will resist the proposed laws. John Deere recently told the Copyright Office that, because computer code is used throughout modern tractors, farmers don’t really own the tractors they buy. Rather they get “an implied license for the life of the vehicle to operate the vehicle.” If this attitude prevails, it will change the definition of a purchase and limit an owner’s ability to resell products that contain computer code.
This is not the first such fight. As automobiles incorporated more electronics, manufacturers attempted to limit the ability of enthusiasts to work on their own cars — a stance that rankled the enthusiasts, independent garages and chains like Jiffy Lube considerably. That coalition eventually prevailed. In 2014, automakers agreed to standardize on Massachusetts law and share the same repair information with independent shops that they make available to dealers.
Although the Bloom has never been built commercially, its easy-disassembly design provides three benefits. First, repair costs are lowered, since it is easy to diagnose problems. Second, the Bloom’s lifetime is longer than the normal laptop, because individual components can be upgraded easily. Finally, the laptop was designed to be recycled. The all-aluminum case needs no intermediate processing. Internal components are color-coded as plastic, metal and circuitry for easy separation and recycling.
Over the last few years, a number of organizations dedicated to helping owners repair their own equipment have emerged. These organizations share product manuals, arrange information forums, and host events to share information about digital products. Examples include:
The rugged individual who solves problems is part of the American ethos. Owners of malfunctioning products should not be forced to rely on lengthy manufacturer repairs, at prices so inflated that many consumers will simply buy a replacement. DIY repairs, and those done by independently owned businesses, help lengthen the life of electronically controlled products and ultimately reduce electronic waste. It is time to update the DMCA and allow product owners to select the repair mode that best meets their needs.