New York Passes “Right-to-Repair” Law
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Digital Fair Repair Act Wednesday night, more than six months after it was passed by the state legislature and the last possible day before the bill would have been automatically repealed.
Changes include the following items:
- the protection of the law applies only to gadgets manufactured after July 1;
- removing the requirement for manufacturers to provide any security unlock codes needed to repair a device;
- allowing manufacturers to provide “assemblies of parts” instead of specific components if they believe that “the risk of improper installation increases the risk of injury”;
- except for products made for business and government sales only.
“This will protect consumers from the monopolistic practices of manufacturers. We all have computers, laptops and smartphones that we repair from time to time. Often we have to send them to the manufacturer for minor repairs that cost us more. Now people will be able to repair their own computers, laptops and smartphones […] without having to send devices to the manufacturer,” commented one of the senators Phil Boyle.
According to available data, 51 senators voted in favor of passing the law on the right to repair, while 12 senators voted against. If passed by the Assembly, the law would be the first of its kind to go into effect in the United States. One of the strengths of this law lies in the simple interpretation of the requirements that manufacturers must adhere to.
