Championing Change: Google Wins 2024 Right to Repair Advocacy Award
The Repair Association has the distinction of presenting an annual Repair Advocate of the Year award, and today, we announce this year’s winner: Google.
2024 has been a banner year for Right to Repair in the US, with more bills passed than ever before, covering more product categories, including powered wheelchairs in California and Massachusetts. Oregon put an end to software repair restrictions–a practice commonly known as “parts pairing”—and extended repair protections back to 2015 for most electronics except cell phones. Colorado went even further; not only did the state restrict anti-consumer “parts pairing,” but it also covered technology purchased by businesses and called on the FTC to develop a repair scoring system.
We are especially thrilled by the parts pairing win, which is huge for the independent repair shops we represent. For years, independent repair shops have been saying that software blocks on repair are an existential threat to their business. More than half of repair shops PIRG surveyed said they might have to close their doors, without better access to repair materials. We began to win access to some of those materials—in New York in 2022, and then in California and Minnesota in 2023; however, we struggled to convince legislators to address software barriers. When Apple testified that removing the barriers would be dangerous or threaten their intellectual property, legislators most often believed them.
That changed this year, in significant part thanks to the support we’ve received from Google. We are thrilled to announce that Google has been awarded the 2024 Right to Repair Advocacy Award in recognition of its significant contributions to advancing device freedom and the Right to Repair. This award honors Google’s proactive efforts to advocate for legislative change and to support policies that empower consumers to repair and maintain their devices.
In January, Google released a Right to Repair white paper to announce their support for more-repairable hardware and pro-consumer software practices, from their own product design to the legislative proposals they endorse. They established repair as a core pillar of their device longevity strategy and positioned themselves clearly in support of Right to Repair: “Google believes that users should have more control over repair—including access to the same documentation, parts and tools that original equipment manufacturer (OEM) repair channels have—which is often referred to as ‘Right to Repair.’” Hear, hear!
While it is a great white paper, that alone would not have won Google the award. Google then put real muscle behind their support. They engaged with our teams of advocates and coordinated on strategy. Steven Nickel, Google’s Director of Consumer Hardware Operations, began to testify on behalf of bills around the country, including Pennsylvania, Oregon and Colorado. The Google team worked to educate legislators about the parts pairing problem and explain how Google keeps devices secure and consumers safe without limiting their ability to calibrate replacement parts or otherwise improve the user experience. This work changed the parts pairing discussion significantly—suddenly, legislators questioned the necessity of parts pairing repair restrictions. When bills passed in Oregon and Colorado with restrictions on parts pairing practices intact, it was clear that Google’s support had been instrumental.
We want to recognize the significance of that work with the 2024 Repair Advocate of the Year Award. This award, presented annually by Repair.org, is a prestigious recognition honoring individuals or organizations that have made an outstanding impact on the movement for device freedom and the Right to Repair. It celebrates the relentless efforts of those who challenge industry norms, advocate for consumer rights, and push for laws empowering people to fix their own devices. This award committee is the board of Repair.org, reflecting a collective acknowledgment of the recipient’s dedication and significant contributions to advancing repair-friendly policies, raising public awareness, and driving real change in the repair landscape.
“Google’s advocacy for Right to Repair has played a critical role in advancing consumer rights across the country. Their support for state legislation like Oregon’s and Colorado’s new law shows a commitment to a future where people can fix their devices without unnecessary hurdles. This award recognizes their efforts to help level the playing field and push back against repair restrictions.”
We commend Google for leading by example, advocating for more repair-friendly policies, and demonstrating that consumer empowerment is “table-stakes.” Congratulations, Google, for this well-deserved recognition!
We look forward to continued collaboration to ensure everyone, everywhere, has the right to repair everything they own.
