NY’s Right to Repair Law Shaped by Contentious IP, Safety Issues

New York’s new, first-in-the-nation electronic repair law includes last-minute amendments lauded by industry groups as necessary to protect intellectual property and consumer safety, while advocates say they paint a false narrative that weakens its goal of helping consumers repair their devices.

Beginning July 1, New York will require makers of electronic devices like phones and tablets to provide access to tools and parts needed to fix those devices. The law is a partial victory for the growing consumer right-to-repair movement, which has gained traction in dozens of states across the country and has brought its advocacy to Congress and federal ...