Thread by @doctorow, It's been nearly two years since the @FTC's #NixingTheFix workshop on how [...]

It& #39;s been nearly two years since the @FTC& #39;s #NixingTheFix workshop on how corporations have sabotage our #RightToRepair. Finally, the Commission has issued its report, and it& #39;s hugely vindicating for R2R advocates.

https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/nixing-fix-ftc-report-congress-repair-restrictions/nixing_the_fix_report_final_5521_630pm-508_002.pdf

1/">https://www.ftc.gov/system/fi...

If you don& #39;t have time to read the 56-page report, check out @Ifixit& #39;s cheat-sheet, which highlights the salient points, namely:

https://www.ifixit.com/News/50251/ftc-report-congress-nixing-fix-repair-restrictions-reactions

2/">https://www.ifixit.com/News/5025...

FTC Report Finds Manufacturers’ Repair Restrictions Unwarranted (Updating)

The FTC’s long-awaited report shows that device makers have not regulated themselves, that warranties are illegally voided, and that enforcement is needed.

https://www.ifixit.com/News/50251/ftc-report-congress-nixing-fix-repair-restrictions-reactions

* Companies routinely violate federal law by voiding their customers& #39; warranties in retaliation for seeking independent repair

* Anti-repair tactics more heavily harm Black people and communities of color

* The pandemic made independent repair sabotage even more important

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* Companies sabotage repair by: designing products to make it harder to fix them; withholding parts and manuals; targeting customers with anti-repair FUD; abusing patent and trademark; using DRM; and imposing abusive EULAs on customers.

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The Commission found that the manufacturers claims about why they should monopolize repair are bullshit:

* Providing independent repair info doesn& #39;t harm manufacturers& #39; IP rights

* The data need to make repair doesn& #39;t qualify as a trade secret

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The Commission also found that the real safety concern with independent repair is that manufacturers& #39; sabotage makes it harder for indie repairers to fix devices safely, and the answer isn& #39;t to ban indie repair - it& #39;s to ban sabotage.

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The FTC also rejects cybersecurity FUD about independent repair: "the record contains no empirical evidence to suggest that independent repair shops are more or less likely than authorized repair shops to compromise or misuse customer data."

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As well as arguments that independent repair inflicts "reputational harm" and liability on manufacturers: "Manufacturers provided no empirical evidence to support their concerns about reputational harm or potential liability resulting from faulty third party repairs."

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The FTC wants to hear from you if a manufacturer has voided (or threatened to void) your warranty after you got independent repair. This is illegal.

https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

9/">https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">...

They& #39;re also proposing new regulations to ban manufacturers& #39; repair sabotage on the grounds that it represents unfair competition. The Commission& #39;s goal is now "[to ensure] consumers have choices when they need to repair products that they purchase and own."

eof/

ETA - If you& #39;d like an unrolled version of this thread to read or share, here& #39;s a link to it on http://pluralistic.net"> http://pluralistic.net , my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

#we-fixit">https://pluralistic.net/2021/05/07/pro-act-class-war/ #we-fixit">https://pluralistic.net/2021/05/0...

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