The FTC Publishes a report for Congress titled Nixing the Fix on Repair Restrictions found in Smartphone and Auto Sectors
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has published an in-depth report covering how product repair restrictions from manufacturers like Apple have a negative impact on consumers, especially minorities, and small businesses.
The report s executive summary in-part states that The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or “Commission”) submits this report pursuant to Congress’s directive for the Commission to report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate regarding anticompetitive practices related to repair markets. When directing the Commission to issue this report, Congress noted that it is aware of the FTC’s ongoing review of how manufacturers in particular mobile phone and car manufacturers may limit repairs by consumers and repair shops, and how those limitations may increase costs, limit choice, and impact consumers’ righ
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May 7, 2021
A Texas man has filed suit against Apple Inc. claiming that the company is responsible for making and selling the defective phone battery that injured him. Thursday’s putative class action stated claims under Texas law for breach of the implied warranty of merchantability and express warranty, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
The Eastern District of Texas complaint alleged that in 2019, the plaintiff was listening to music on his iPhone 6 when it began to skip. “As he picked up his iPhone to investigate, his iPhone suddenly exploded and caught fire in his face, causing him to fall to the ground,” the filing explained.
FTC publishes study addressing R2R issues
FTC publishes study addressing R2R issues
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WASHINGTON, D.C. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has published a report on anti-competitive repair practices in the automotive and other industries that concludes there is scant evidence to support manufacturers justifications for repair restrictions.
The 56-page report,
Nixing the Fix: An FTC Report to Congress on Repair Restrictions, explores means of expanding consumers repair options and how the Commission could assist in that expansion, consistent with its statutory authority.
In addition, the FTC notes that it stands ready to work with lawmakers, either at the state or federal level, to ensure that consumers have choices when they need to repair products they purchase and own.
Photo: Alex Cranz/Gizmodo
After nearly two long years of waiting, the Federal Trade Commission released its “Nixing the Fix” report on restrictions employed by manufacturers on product repairs. Folks, it does not mince words, saying there is “scant evidence” justifying the obstacles companies put in place to limit consumers’ options when it comes to repairs.
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The lengthy report initially spawned out of a 2019 FTC workshop, which then prompted Congress to call on the agency to continue its investigation into the issue. While right-to-repair advocates have been banging the drum that manufacturers have unfairly rigged the game against independent repair shops and consumers, manufacturers have retorted that the market works fine as is. The bipartisan FTC report categorically disagrees. “Although manufacturers have offered numerous explanations for their repair restrictions,” the report concludes, “the majority are not supported by the record.”
There is scant evidence to support manufacturers’ justifications for restrictions
Katyanna Quach Fri 7 May 2021 // 01:49 UTC Share
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America s consumer watchdog, the FTC, today scolded technology makers for their anti-repair practices, and signaled it will support new legislation that ensures people can mend their own stuff without penalty.
In short, the FTC said manufacturers were, among other things, regularly breaking or stretching warranty law, deliberately designing products that are hard to fix, keeping repair information secret, using patent and trademark law to thwart repair efforts, discouraging independent third-party repairs, and using software to lock out changes. This leads to a bad deal for buyers and the environment as stuff gets thrown away when it could have been mended and reused.