Category: Regulation
Area of Effect: Consumer Protection
The World Assembly,
OBSERVING that manufacturers of products (such as cars, computers and electronics) may impose legal or technical restrictions to frustrate or prevent consumer or third-party modifications, repairs or upgrades;
APPALLED that such restrictions pose a notable risk to consumer freedoms and the environment, by promoting unreasonable disposal of products that would otherwise work fine if consumer or third-party modifications, repairs or upgrades were allowed;
HEREBY enshrines the “right to repair” in all member countries, wherein manufacturers may not impose legal or technical restrictions on their products to frustrate or prevent consumer or third-party modifications, repairs or upgrades;
ALLOWS member countries to regulate third-party repair businesses, to protect consumers from substandard or dangerous repairs, or to improve the quality and safety of third-party repairs.
I thought I would get this out because I came across articles over time about the right to repair and I thought, it might be an idea for a resolution: you know, a small piece of legislation that could go a long way to reduce waste. But the question is: how simple can it get?