EU's new rules will extend warranty if you repair device
What's the story
The European Union (EU) has implemented a new set of right-to-repair regulations, aimed at encouraging consumers to repair rather than discard faulty devices.
A key aspect of these rules is the extension of a product's warranty by one year, if it is repaired while still under warranty.
This comes in addition to the existing EU mandate that companies provide a minimum two-year warranty on products.
Service obligation
Companies must offer repair services for common household items
Under these new regulations, companies are mandated to offer repair services for common household items like smartphones, TVs, washing machines, and more, even after the warranty period has expired.
If a product breaks down while under warranty, consumers can choose between a replacement or a repair. Opting for repair will extend the warranty by an additional year.
Companies are now required to offer repairs at a "reasonable" price to prevent customers from being "intentionally deterred" from getting their product fixed.
Repair freedom
Manufacturers must provide spare parts, tools, and repair information
The new rules also require manufacturers to offer spare parts/tools, and prohibit them from using "contractual clauses, hardware or software techniques that obstruct repairs."
Companies are also prevented from stopping independent repair shops from using 3D-printed or second-hand parts, refusing to repair products due to economic reasons, or if it was previously repaired by an outside party.
The EU is planning to launch an e-platform designed to help customers locate local repair shops and sellers of used products.
Coalition response
Right to Repair Europe coalition lauds the new rules
The Right to Repair Europe coalition has lauded these new rules as "a step in the right direction."
However, they pointed out limitations such as the rules only covering consumer products, and not including anything purchased by businesses or industrial goods.
They also highlighted that there's no guidance on what constitutes a "reasonable price" for spare parts and tools — effectively leaving it up to firms to decide what to charge.
Regulatory critique
Companies can avoid compliance with the ban
The coalition criticized that practices impeding repair like Apple's use of parts pairing were not sufficiently addressed.
Companies can avoid compliance with the ban if they can cite "legitimate and objective factors" — including the protection of their intellectual property rights.
The coalition called this exemption "very blurry" and argued that it left "the door open" for manufacturers to still block outside repairs of their products.