Part 1/11:

The Fight for Repair Rights: Ownership, Legislation, and the Future of Fixing Our Devices

The Core Issue: Ownership and Monopoly on Repair

Many consumers operate under the assumption that once they purchase a product—be it a tractor, cell phone, or computer—they own it and have the right to repair it. However, advocates like Tom Shwarz highlight a fundamental problem: corporations are increasingly controlling how and when these devices can be fixed. "You don't own what you think you own, and you don't have the rights you're supposed to have," explains Gay Gordon-Byrne, emphasizing that this is a cross-industry issue rooted in corporate policies aimed at maintaining a repair monopoly.