cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/21474519
Not sure if a local gov could get away with this. Is it sensible to ask the local gov take formal actions to declare copyright as unenforcable on things like service manuals and wiring diagrams, which product makers protect almost like trade secrets? It’s not likely enforced anyway, but a formal step would be needed before leaked service manuals could be distributed by public libraries.
In the EU, manufacturers must share repair docs with third-party /insured/ repair professionals (not consumers) for some specific products like washing machines.
Using a stick
Would it be sensible for a local law to require those professionals who have privileged access to repair docs to share whatever they obtain in the course of their work with a public library?
using a carrot
Would it be sensible for a policy to compensate professionals who have privileged access to repair docs for sharing whatever they obtain in the course of their work with a public library? It could be abused. E.g. an appliance repair shop could submit multiple wiring diagrams for the same product as separate submissions if they are (e.g.) paid $/€ 50 per submission.
If the carrot and stick are both used, repair pros could get 50 for the first submitted doc for each model, but then have a mandate to supply any additional docs they receive for that model without further compensation. Maybe that’s too detailed for a petition.
Not piracy but a right to repair law would do just fine. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240419IPR20590/right-to-repair-making-repair-easier-and-more-appealing-to-consumers
The EU has been grappling with right to repair laws for over 10 years now. It’s a complete shit show.
At the moment, a washing machine maker in the EU is only required to release repair documentation to professional repairers who are insured, not consumers. And they only have to do it in the 1st 10 years, not in the time period that things actually break. At the 10 year mark, they automatically lose the docs and stop making parts.
The law you reference is not yet in force AFAIK. But when it comes into force and each member state eventually legislates, look at what we are getting-- from your reference:
A European information form can be offered to consumers to help them assess and compare repair services (detailing the nature of the defect, price and duration of the repair). To make the repair process easier, a European online platform with national sections will be set up to help consumers easily find local repair shops, sellers of refurbished goods, buyers of defective items or community-led repair initiatives, such as repair cafes.
That’s crap. It’s fuck all. Consumers are not getting service manuals. They are just being told where they can go to get someone else to do the work. We can of course already find repair cafes because they publish their own location. But repairers at repair cafes are just winging it. You cannot bring them a large appliance like a washer. They don’t even have water and drain hookups. And even if one repair cafe made an exception for large appliances, their repairers are not insured and thus cannot legally get access to service manuals.
Everything at the state/fed/intl levels is a total shitshow. This is why I asked in the OP what can be done at the local level.
I agree. But you have to start somewhere. The guideline has been converted into legislation in Belgium since last week.
The Repair cafés run by volunteers are now formal repair hubs that are subsidized and will be involved in building up knowledge for further legislation.
I agree. But you have to start somewhere. The guideline has been converted into legislation in Belgium since last week.
Do you have more detail on what was implemented? I could only find this repairability index, which I suspect won’t be much more useful than energy indexes and nutrition indexes.
So, one one hand you have a repairability index that indicated how repairable certain devices are.
A bit lame, I agree, and a copy of the French system.
But there’s also this knowledge platform that is installed by the same law that unites producers, suppliers, employees, environmental organisations and al our regional governments (we have a few of those…)
Every 6 months they’ll have to report and evaluate repairability and make suggestions to improve legislation. The law is constructed in such a way that it can easily be adapted and expanded.
Every quarter they’ll evaluate how producers and importers comply to the legislation.
So, yes. It’s not much for now but it is a certain step in the right way. They’re careful not to overregulate and will evaluate and evolve.
Also, it makes no sense installing legislation if there is no apparatus to maintain and sanction.
I’m mildly optimistic because our government is seldom caught being thoughtful and considerate 🙈
I should have linked the parent thread. Federal laws are a shit show. In the US, most states have paltry R2R protections typically only covering cars, wheel chairs, and farm equipment.
This is why I am collecting ideas for what we might petition LOCAL govs to do, like city councils.
Good fucking luck
Service manuals often aren’t even made anymore let alone wiring diagrams. This is a bigger discussion of things being made to be repairable. It’s one thing if you’re discussing a car (which are increasingly being built like hostile tech, thanks tesla), but your phone/console/laptop/appliance/etc?
Best case scenario it’s made with a few sub assemblies that are designed to be swapped out instead of fixing them. why diagnose the 1 cent capacitor that’s shorting on your phone motherboard and swap it out? That would create skilled labor, save your data, create opportunities for local small businesses, and prevent e waste. Instead let’s just swap the motherboard, or more likely just junk the phone altogether and make it a parts phone so it can be used for someone who needs a new lcd/battery/casing down the line. As a result apple will buy it off of you for $100 (only if you buy a new phone too though, store credit) as a result even though you paid 800 2 years ago and the remaining parts are worth $400 second hand easily
That’s why even when you can get these docs they’re largely worthless. Apple shares their support docs with their self repair program (though you need a current model serial number to access, not freely available). But it’s what’s described above. If you want to change the lcd? Helpful. If you want to fix a boot loop and persevere your flash? Go fuck yourself unless you have backups