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                   FTC Comes Out in Favor of Right to Repair

   Josh Centers

   [1]iFixit covers the just-released US Federal Trade Commission
   [2]report calling out manufacturers for restricting consumer repairs
   and debunking common arguments against the right to repair. The FTC
   found that companies are illegally voiding warranties in violation of
   the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, and it is considering more stringent
   enforcement of the law and additional rules to make it easier for
   owners to repair their own devices or take them to independent repair
   shops.

   One common manufacturer argument is that they make repair difficult to
   prevent consumers from hurting themselves. The FTC not only disagreed
   with that assessment, but also found that by making repairs more
   difficult, manufacturers are making independent repair less safe. The
   FTC also didn't buy arguments that independent repair threatens
   customer security or opens manufacturers up to liability, having found
   no evidence of either. Finally, the FTC noted that repair restrictions
   cause harm to local economies by limiting the business of independent
   repair shops, which disproportionately damage the poor and minorities.

   [3]Read original article

References

   1. https://www.ifixit.com/News/50251/ftc-report-congress-nixing-fix-repair-restrictions-reactions
   2. 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
   3. https://www.ifixit.com/News/50251/ftc-report-congress-nixing-fix-repair-restrictions-reactions

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