The Right to Repair Act, which was signed in California in October 2023, aims to expand the protection provided by the state’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. This act, established over five decades ago, ensures that products purchased in California are covered by their warranties and allows for necessary repairs to be made. If the same issue persists after a reasonable number of repair attempts, the manufacturer is required to either refund the buyer or provide a replacement.

California’s implementation of the Right to Repair Act goes even further. Manufacturers are now obligated to supply the parts, equipment, and manuals necessary for repairing products for a specified period of time, either three or seven years depending on the value of the product.

The essence of the Right to Repair philosophy is that consumers should have the right to expect their products to function as intended for their entire lifespan. While issues and defects may arise, it should not be an arduous process to have them addressed and resolved. In some cases, legislation such as the UK’s right-to-repair laws allow for consumers to perform simpler repairs themselves, while ensuring that more complex repairs can be carried out by professionals with access to the necessary parts.