Oregon Right to Repair

In 2024, Oregon enacted the most comprehensive Right to Repair law in the United States, representing a monumental shift in the consumer electronics landscape and the fight for repair rights. Effective January 1, 2025, the legislation outlaws parts pairing, ensuring that devices sold in the state are fully repairable by independent shops or through DIY efforts. The law applies to smartphones first sold in the state as of July 1, 2021, and most other electronics as of July 1, 2015.

Oregon's Right to Repair law does not apply to video game consoles, medical devices, HVAC systems, devices powered by combustion engines, and energy storage systems.

3 facts on right to repair

Here’s how this groundbreaking law stands to benefit consumers, the economy, and the planet:

• Consumer Empowerment: Oregon’s Right to Repair law is a game-changer for consumer empowerment and financial savings. By breaking down the monopolistic barriers erected by manufacturers—such as proprietary parts and software locks—this legislation enables Oregonians to choose their repair provider or to perform repairs themselves. This newfound freedom promises significant economic benefits, notably the potential for households to save money. According to the U.S. PIRG study “Repair Saves People Big”, repair could save up to $330.23, per household.
  
  Beyond individual savings, this law fosters a competitive repair market, stimulating local economies and encouraging a sustainable culture of reuse over replacement. In essence, the Right to Repair empowers Oregonians with the autonomy over their devices they rightfully deserve, making repairs more accessible, affordable, and beneficial for the environment.

• Repair Is Necessary and Popular: Consumer Reports reveals that an overwhelming majority of Americans (81%) have found themselves replacing items due to malfunction, and over half (53%) have done so earlier than anticipated, hindered by the difficulty in locating a satisfactory repair service. This frustration, coupled with the often prohibitive costs of repairs, has led a significant majority (84%) to endorse policies mandating manufacturers to provide access to repair manuals and parts to both independent technicians and owners alike.
  
  In Oregon, this sentiment resonates strongly, with Oregon Consumer Justice reporting that 70% of residents are in favor of Right to Repair legislation. This broad-based support underscores the public's desire for more sustainable consumption options and the empowerment to choose repair over replacement, reflecting a nationwide call for change towards greater repairability and longevity of products.

• Repair Benefits the Environment: The increase of electronic waste presents a significant environmental challenge. On average, Americans replace their cell phones every 2 to 3 years and their computers every 4 to 5 years, contributing to a cycle that demands intensive rare earth mining, generates greenhouse gas emissions, and produces hazardous waste. Daily, over 400,000 cell phones are thrown away in the U.S., with around 4,800 of these in Oregon alone. Of these discarded devices, merely a third are recycled, with certain materials, like plastics, being non-recoverable. The remainder ends up in landfills, leaking toxic substances that pose risks to our health.

  The solution lies in repairing and extending the life of our electronics. Despite this, manufacturers continue to push for annual upgrades, often designing devices to be difficult to repair. This business model of consumption and disposal is not just unsustainable; it disregards the energy, materials, and labor invested in producing these devices. Creating a future where we prioritize repairing, salvaging, and refurbishing our electronics is crucial for environmental sustainability. Adopting a circular economy, where resources are reused and conserved, is essential. Repairing electronics is a key step towards this goal, ensuring a healthier planet by reducing waste and conserving resources.

what the law requires manufacturers to provide

Key Dates

Penalties and enforcement: Consequences of Non-Compliance

If manufacturers fail to supply necessary repair resources like documentation, parts, or tools to device owners or independent technicians, they may be in violation of the Right to Repair law. Additionally, manufacturers could be infringing upon the law if the provided resources come with unreasonable conditions, such as excessive costs or unreasonable delays.

The responsibility of upholding the Right to Repair lies with the state attorney general, who treats violations as unfair or misleading business conduct. Manufacturers found to be in violation can face a civil fine of up to $1,000 for each day a violation persists.

If you have reason to believe a manufacturer is not adhering to the Right to Repair legislation, we urge you to file a complaint through the link below.

You can also report a violation to the Federal Trade Commission, who accepts reports of fraud, scams, and bad business practices. You may file a report form on the FTC website here: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/. The FTC does not resolve individual reports, but uses reports to investigate cases.

Right to Repair RESOURCES FOR CONSUMERS

Now that Right to Repair is the law of the land in Oregon, consumers can take advantage of a variety of resources. We’ve compiled a few to help get you started on your repairs. Expect more to become available as the law is implemented and manufacturers come into compliance.

DIY Repair

Repairing our stuff benefits the environment, the planet, and the local economy. It also benefits you personally! When you repair a device, you build confidence, learn patience, and develop a skillset that will help you repair more devices. Think of DIY repair as a learning opportunity. Practice makes perfect, and practicing repairs teaches design, engineering, and how stuff works.

Companies like iFixit offer free DIY repair manuals for tens of thousands of products. Manufacturers like Framework, Fairphone, Motorola, and HMD have also started to make DIY repair a core part of their product support.

FIND A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP

Repair jobs are local jobs, and thousands of locally owned and operated small and medium repair businesses have popped up in the last few years. Choosing a local repair business supports your local economy, and can save you money. Repair shops often are able to charge less than an authorized repair center through a manufacturer and they can fix what authorized repair can’t or won’t.

To find a local repair shop, use a local business directory in your community.

Right to Repair RESOURCES FOR REPAIR BUSINESSES

Right to Repair RESOURCES FOR MANUFACTURERS

Under the Right to Repair law, manufacturers are obligated to facilitate repairs. While this might appear overwhelming for some businesses, achieving compliance is straightforward. Manufacturers can readily extend the capabilities they offer to authorized repair centers. In cases where a manufacturer lacks a service center, several alternatives are available.

Build It From Scratch

Companies such as Fairphone and Framework have designed their products prioritizing ease of part replacement, making them naturally compliant with repair regulations. This approach is particularly feasible for new enterprises. Yet, for established corporations, initiating a repair-friendly platform can present challenges. The shift requires a cultural transformation towards openness and away from tight control, along with overcoming logistical and data management hurdles.

Use a third-party network

Apple's choice to partner with a third-party service for its Self Service Repair program illustrates another pathway, even if it deviates from the usual Apple finesse. Similarly, Samsung's collaboration with local repair services like uBreakiFix shows how outsourcing can effectively meet repair requirements—providing parts, tools, and guides without significant complications.

Create a Repair Ecosystem

For manufacturers interested in exploring how to build or enhance a repair ecosystem, further resources and guidance are available. iFixit, a leader in the repair community, offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to support manufacturers at every step of the process. From repairability assessments to technical documentation and parts distribution, iFixit's expertise can help manufacturers navigate the complexities of creating products that are both durable and repairable.

Learn more about iFixit's offerings and how they can assist your company in developing a robust repair ecosystem by visiting iFixit's website.

Please use the form below if you have any questions or concerns.