Federal ‘Right to Repair’ Turns on IP Law Changes, Congress Told

Advocates for the right-to-repair movement told Congress on Tuesday that federal action is needed to resolve a patchwork of state repair codes and update national intellectual property laws that hinder consumers’ ability to repair their devices and automobiles.

Some lawmakers at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing, however, said it would be difficult to craft legislation that balances consumer interests with those of the tech and automotive industries, which have voiced safety concerns while strongly opposing legislation that would reduce copyright and patent protections.

With the lack of federal action, states have so far been left to fill in the gap. ...