The right-to-repair movement is gaining traction as legislative victories increase across the United States. Advocates are pushing back against corporate restrictions, promoting environmental awareness and consumer empowerment.
Peter Mui, founder of Fixit Clinic, describes his repair advocacy as a hobby turned movement. Starting as a tool-sharing project in Berkeley, California, Fixit Clinic has now organized over 1,300 repair events nationwide. These events invite people to bring broken items, from socks to appliances, and receive guidance on fixing them.
“Interest in repair has skyrocketed,” Mui said, crediting growing awareness of e-waste and recent right-to-repair laws.
Manufacturers have historically used copyright law to restrict repairs. However, six states — California, Colorado, Minnesota, Maine, New York, and Oregon — have passed right-to-repair laws, with Oregon’s taking effect in January 2025. Twenty state legislatures are currently debating similar bills.
Federal legislation for automobile repair stalled last year but was recently reintroduced. Despite uncertainty about Donald Trump’s position on the issue, supporters remain hopeful, given strong bipartisan backing at the state level.
“Every popular referendum has passed by 70% or more,” Mui noted.
The right-to-repair movement began gaining attention in 2012 when Massachusetts required automakers to provide independent mechanics with diagnostic tools. In 2014, Congress legalized cellphone unlocking, followed by exemptions for modifying devices like tablets in 2015.
In 2022, concerns over McDonald’s frequently broken McFlurry machines pushed the movement further. A lawsuit led to the U.S. Copyright Office allowing third-party McFlurry repairs, challenging Taylor Company’s monopoly.
Kit Walsh of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) warned that manufacturers will continue to limit independent repairs to maintain profits. Walsh sees state-level laws and exemptions as key strategies moving forward.
Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the Right to Repair Coalition, said tech giants like Apple once fiercely opposed repair legislation. Yet some companies, like Motorola and Microsoft, have since partnered with advocates.
“Consumers are demanding change,” Gordon-Byrne said. “Every law passed encourages manufacturers to support their customers again.”
The coalition’s “know-your-rights” program helps consumers verify local repair laws and report violations to the attorney general.
“Everyone’s tired of not being able to fix their belongings,” Gordon-Byrne said. “Even legislators ask if right-to-repair will make fixing their phones cheaper — and they say, ‘Sign me up.’”
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