Repair and maintenance of IT equipment is expensive for businesses of all sizes. Where repair is not readily available on reasonable terms, that equipment loses its value in the secondary market, and may become obsolete in the marketplace long before being technologically obsolete.
Many organizations buy equipment with the expectation of long use and residual value even after years of use. The value of these assets is retained only when repair and resale is practical in a free market. The same unfair terms and conditions that seek to limit independent repair also block the used market.
Technology-enhanced assets are still assets when purchased, then become less than assets once an End User License Agreement is accepted. Most EULA are never negotiable, are often presented post-purchase, and rarely require a counter-signature despite making devastating changes to the original purchase and notion of ownership. Every business will have more bargaining power, more options, and lower costs of operations once Right to Repair is law.
Both for-profit and non-profit organizations have powerful voices with their state legislators. Use our contact template, or reach out for recommendations on how best to advocate for your industry at info@repair.org
Brian Hall, an expert technician at Continuant, configures an Avaya phone system
The Firmware Trap
The IP in question is a specific type of code, known as “Firmware.” Firmware comes with the machine and is inseparable from the hardware. If firmware is treated as IP, the owner is totally beholden to the manufacturer for permission to touch the firmware—for restoring lost firmware, applying patches and fixes, or even transferring the firmware in a hardware sale.
Treatment of firmware is the dividing line between a purchase and a license. All equipment buyers are entitled to know which parts of the purchase can be treated as assets, which require firmware be treated as part of the hardware, or which equipment elements are to be treated as licenses. Manufacturers are free to choose if they are selling hardware or licenses.
Are manufacturers demanding that you buy “support” exclusively from them?
They’re using service contracts to control your use of your purchases. This isn’t right, and it isn’t what you expected when you purchased their products.
"Some of the largest IT vendors in the industry, including IBM, Microsoft, SAP and Oracle, are mining their install base in a bid to offset the damage being done to revenues by new disruptive technologies." —Gartner
Manufacturers are using dirty tactics—binding their repair and support services to sales. They’re telling you what you have to do with your device, and that isn’t right. You bought it, you own it.
Say no to expensive manufacturer monopolies on repair. Join The Repair Association to make sure these choices remain yours.
““I have witnessed first-hand the challenges our members face today in the IT service industry delivering services to customers. We are grateful for the work being conducted by Repair.Org that will allow our members to compete in an open market on a level playing field, which allows the customers to make choices for service.””