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It's surprising there even has to be a "right to repair" to actually repair things.

• srtjstjsj 6y ago
  There isn't. It's a political term to make a 2-sided issue look 1-sided.
  • tengbretson 6y ago
    Not sure why this is a controversial take. Personally, I support most of the goals of the so-called "Right to Repair" but it should be pretty obvious that its name is a rhetorical trick to make people say "wow this company who's products I continually choose to purchase is really trampling my rights." Give me a break.
    • shmerl 6y ago
      You can vote with your wallet and don't buy anything from such company :) But curbing such nasty behavior from companies is still good, especially if they all start following that trend of locking things up.
      • tengbretson 6y ago
        Agreed on both counts. Still not a "right"
• ed25519FUUU 6y ago
  It’s almost always a commercial issue, where you would find yourself in a legal bind. I do think the “first sale” doctrine should extend everywhere and include tinkering. I understand that would cause a lot of changes in the licensing industry but it’s worth it in my opinion.
  • srtjstjsj 6y ago
    Would you say that first sale applies to the software service subscription as well?
• dboreham 6y ago
  If repair involves calibrating some software control system to the new part, and that can't be done without diagnostic software that nobody has access to. That kind of thing.
  • shmerl 6y ago
    Good reason to make all that open source.
• bonestamp2 6y ago
  Yes and no. Yes, I think owners of devices should have much more access to the parts and tools needed to repair their own equipment. But, there's an argument in this article that I don't completely agree with, although I can sympathize with the need. Those activation locked iPads would be very helpful to address the device shortage at schools and it would be great if we could find a way to do that. But, it's not simple either. Activation lock is the problem in this scenario, but it's also a solution in another scenario. Activation lock has dramatically decreased theft of Apple phones and tablets. Right now, there's not much point in stealing one of these devices since it cannot be used by someone other than the owner. But I can remember a time when device theft was a daily occurance in public. The problem expressed in this article is that the legitimate owner has changed, but the lock has remained, and that is a valid problem. If a recycler can suddenly unlock them, that solves one problem but creates two more. Now you've resurrected the black market for stolen apple devices and created a new black market for the unlocking of these devices. Sure, there is probably a technical solution to solve that too, but my point is that a solution needs careful thought and not just free-for-all legislation.
  • shmerl 6y ago
    I'd say schools should stay away from the likes of Apple and use devices and systems that don't have such problem in the first place.