[samaspire]

Came across this article - shows how brands have monopolized repairs and now people are having to go legal to fight for rights to repair their own trucks.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/b...lly-repairable

When a brand new John Deere tractors breaks down, you need a computer to fix it. When a John Deere tractor manufactured in 1979 breaks down, you can repair it yourself or buy another old John Deere tractor. Farming equipment—like televisions, cars, and even toothbrushes—now often comes saddled with a computer. That computer often comes with digital rights management software that can make simple repairs an expensive pain in the ass. As reported by the Minnesota StarTribune, Farmers have figured out a way around the problem—buying tractors manufactured 40 years ago, before the computers took over.

The way things are in India now, looks like we are the heading in the same direction. Every car manufacturer insists that you come to them for any repair / service of you want, to retain warranty. I'm sure electric car makers will put in software locks to prevent tampering outside the authorised workshops.

To give an example from the home appliances market; previously, the retailer who sold you the TV would come home and install it, and then undertake repairs himself, if needed. Now, once you pay for your TV, the retailer will deliver it to your house, but will not even unbox it. The company technician will have to come home and do that. When there is any issue, you (or your retailer) will have to call the company technician and only he can undertake repairs if you want to retain warranty. Some are too complicated to be repaired independently even out of warranty.

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by samaspire

Came across this article - shows how brands have monopolized repairs and now people are having to go legal to fight for rights to repair their own trucks.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/b...lly-repairable

This is actually VICE hashing old wine in new bottle with minor changes ; the situation has been at the warfront since 2016 onwards (refer to the VICE's 2017 article). Unfortunately not everything has improved as the article you shared clearly talks about farmers opting out for decade older models.

The main battle is being fought by The Repair Association, a coalition of different industry based players coming together to fight against the corporations like Apple, John Deere and most automobile giants that lobby across the states and federal institutions to prevent the right of consumers to repair the products they purchase.

Smaller firms like iFixit and many more had been fighting the battle since a decade ago primarily in the digital/mobile & similar consumer electronics but now under the umbrella of TRA; they have expanded the coverage to Automobiles, Medical Devices, Agriculture & Farming and many more!

Thankfully the world is taking notice; even if the US lobbing model delays the appropriate repair laws to be passed.

Edit: A dated but still relevant/interesting article from The Atlantic on similar right-to-repair constraints on the automobile front.