FTC pledges to take on unlawful restrictions on right-to-repair

For the first time, the FTC has taken a formal stance against unlawful repair restrictions, echoing a position that the White House took less than a week ago.

The conversation surrounding the right-to-repair movement has accelerated recently with new legislation and tech leaders sharing their support. Apple's control of repair parts and authorized facilities make it a prime target for the movement.

The FTC has filed a policy statement taking a stance against unlawful repair practices. The statement was approved unanimously by the FTC and will be used to encourage competition in repair markets with "vigor."

"While efforts by dominant firms to restrict repair markets are not new, changes in technology and more prevalent use of software has created fresh opportunities for companies to limit independent repair," says FTC Chair Lina Khan. "These types of restrictions can significantly raise costs for consumers, stifle innovation, close off business opportunities for independent repair shops, create unnecessary electronic waste, delay timely repairs, and undermine resiliency."

The FTC statement says that the enforcement agency will ramp up efforts against repair restrictions that prevent small businesses, workers, consumers, and even government entities from fixing their own products. For example, while Apple itself is not cited, Apple only allows authorized repair facilities to order replacement parts or access diagnostic tools.

An iPhone user seeking to repair their device must visit Apple itself or choose from a list of repair facilities specifically chosen by Apple. Practically, that means that an average user cannot realistically repair their device, nor can they choose a different repair facility not affiliated with Apple and expect continued warranty coverage.

Apple isn't the only company with strict repair restrictions and part allocation rules. Microsoft has similar issues with the Surface line of products, and the extremely popular Xbox family of gaming consoles. Nintendo and Sony are similar with their gaming hardware as well. The FTC is expected to target any company that makes it difficult for consumers to repair their own devices.

The pledge comes only days after Washington asked the FTC to step up right-to-repair regulations. This FTC decision is among the first major anti-monopoly moves made by Lina Khan after becoming the new chair.

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31 Comments

DAalseth 2977 comments · 6 Years 🧟

About 3 years ago

I have to admit that I’ve changed my mind on Right to Repair. Common things, phone screens and batteries, for example, should be easy and fairly inexpensive. I understand if a particular component needs to be factory replaced for security, a touch ID button for example. But how often do those break. Common repairs though should not be tough or expensive.

genovelle 1481 comments · 16 Years ☠️

DAalseth said:

I have to admit that I’ve changed my mind on Right to Repair. Common things, phone screens and batteries, for example, should be easy and fairly inexpensive. I understand if a particular component needs to be factory replaced for security, a touch ID button for example. But how often do those break. Common repairs though should not be tough or expensive.

All of these things are tied together. Even Apple with trained techs have issues dealing with the batteries in phones. If handled improperly they go into a runaway thermal reaction event that can be deadly. It has happened at Apple stores in the repair departments. The difference is they are trained to handle this and have containment devices designed to minimize risk.

They are also performing proper testing. The other side to this is random 3rd parties can claim they know what they are doing, perform a substandard repair that fails weeks later and know the customer’s family will attempt to sue Apple because of the resulting death of their loved one.

Uncertified 3rd parties can also claim to use genuine Apple parts, but then turn around and use cheap knockoffs and then blame Apple when the customer has issues down the road.

This is not a car. When Honda sells their Hydrogen car there are only a few places to service it. The reason is there is more to repairing it then just connecting some parts together.

transmaster 13 comments · 7 Years 🧟

This is why I alway purchase Apple care. I also change out my primary iPhone every 2 years. I am a hamradio operator and I do repair electronic equipment. What we are faced with is counterfeit parts. I see 3rd party repair work for Apple devices flooded with cheap knockoff counterfeit parts. Even the most ethical repair shop is going to get these fake parts they are almost impossible to tell from real ones. If I require work on anything Apple it will be Apple that will work on it.

dewme 5681 comments · 10 Years ☠️

I wish the politicians behind this would simply state what they really want. Calling it "right to repair" is totally disingenuous. If you want to attempt a repair on something you purchased, regardless of the manufacturer or product, and assume full responsibility for all damage that you cause, and absolve the manufacturer from any liability and warranty - go for it. That's your right, whether you personally attempt the repair or farm out the job to a muffler repair shop. Right to repair == right to destroy == right to own the consequences.

I think what most people think they want are repairable products - whatever that means in terms of today's products with micro-miniature components, and embedded proprietary software/firmware, most of which is designed for mass production automated, one-time, assembly by robots and machinery, not human hands. One time assembly, as in using glues rather than screws. Assembly techniques that have been used in integrated circuits, SoCs, and other "potted" devices have moved up to larger sized components. These products were designed for ease of assembly, not ease of disassembly. Yeah, you can heat the glue and peel certain things apart, just like you can de-lid an IC to get at its internals. Good luck with that, but you certainly have the "right" to try it.

I'm at a loss to understand how high level government officials are being tasked with something so esoteric and meaningless to the vast majority of the population when they can't even figure out the repair equation on some very basic stuff, like how to keep rusting and decaying bridges, overpasses, and roads from crumbling to pieces, falling down, and killing people. Is there some sort of "right to repair" issue with repairing bridges and roads that we don't know about? If they are looking for permission from those of us who pay to fix these failing things, I'm adding in my "yes" vote to them proceeding with the needed repairs. This would benefit all consumers a lot more than forcing consumer electronics companies to encourage anyone with a soldering iron and a "no guts - no glory" attitude to pry open their $1500 widget to save the couple of hundred bucks they'd have to pay someone who actually knows what they are doing and guarantees their work to service their baby.

lkrupp 10521 comments · 19 Years ☠️

I think the vast majority of Apple product owners will be unaffected by this. I know for myself that I would never, EVER, use a third party repair shop to work on my Apple gear, even a battery replacement. An article elsewhere estimates Apple has lost $3.2B to counterfeit AirPods. imagine the flood of counterfeit parts going to third party repair shops as they struggle to compete against each other. It’s no different than the scam investigations of independent auto repair shops where customers are lied to garner large repair bills. It will be BUYER BEWARE on steroids for Apple owners wanting to get their gear fixed.