I figured that right to repair is a topic many of us are interested in. The survey below by ISED Canada, a department of the Government of Canada, is open until September 26, 2024.
Canadians can provide their input at the following link: https://ised-isde.survey-sondage.ca/f/s/RTR
Definitely bring up the problem of e-waste!
I also responded that manufacturers shouldn’t be allowed to artificially inflate the cost of replacement parts, as it would firewall any benefits from having a right to repair law. If found doing so, they should be fined. It needs to be a law that parts be made available at a reasonable cost, in my opinion.
I’d say the specifications of the design should be made public domain after some time (say 5 years for high-tech and 10 otherwise) or if the OEM shuts down the factory.
It’s a bit unreasonable to keep parts in stock 50 years after the product was last sold, but if the designs are available any company can start a new run, or even just a guy with a nice shop. The big exception to this is silicon chips, there are only a few companies that can even make integrated circuits, let alone processors. Public access to designs might encourage competition though…
Depends on the part, of course :)
But realistically, if manufacturers were forced to… say… keep batteries and parts available for 10 years, they may actually start to design their products using more efficient (i.e. same parts), lower waste, and with durability in mind.
It would certainly slow down or stop manufacturers from making proprietary parts for every new model they make.
But having designs public domain sounds like a great idea, and if the right to repair becomes a thing, I would expect schematics to be made available anyway.
And actual new batteries, not 10 year old “new old stock” batteries that only last a week in use.