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submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by inari@piefed.zip to c/technology@lemmy.world

The products covered by the obligation to repair currently include:

  • washing machines and washer-dryers
  • dishwashers
  • refrigerators
  • electronic displays
  • welding equipment
  • servers and data storage products
  • mobile phones, cordless phones and tablets
  • tumble dryers 
  • e-bikes and e-scooters batteries (from 18 February 2027)
  • local space heaters
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[-] dan1101@lemmy.world 196 points 3 weeks ago

Hopefully this will benefit other countries indirectly, instead of designing one repairable phone and one not repairable, should be easier to just design one.

[-] CaptDust@sh.itjust.works 149 points 3 weeks ago

"Hold my beer" - Nintendo, releasing an EU centric revision. Meanwhile Apple and Samsung are digging up every legal loophole to prevent the law applying to their devices.

[-] IllNess@infosec.pub 58 points 3 weeks ago

Apple and Samsung be like: "It's not a mobile phone or a tablet, it's a phablet so it does not fall in to any category of the devices that need to be repairable."

[-] ViatorOmnium@piefed.social 22 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

The loophole in the directive is smaller phones. Smartphones go from 10.16 cm (4 inches) diagonal to 17. 78cm (7 inches) and everything bigger (up to 44.2 cm) is a tablet.

Samsung and Apple's flagship smartphones are very close to be considered tablets but that wouldn't save them from the requirements.

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[-] lemmygarden@lemmy.today 38 points 3 weeks ago

The past two phones I bought were not because they broke, but because they stopped being supported on apps that I need to use.

[-] ViatorOmnium@piefed.social 28 points 3 weeks ago

That's also included in the directive. Manufactures will be required to provide OS updates for at least 5 years "from the date of end of placement on the market" (which means the date the brand shipped the last device of a model).

They also have 4 months to release security updates and 6 months for functionality updates see ANNEX II for all device categories.

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[-] defaultusername@lemmy.dbzer0.com 131 points 3 weeks ago

Interesting things that are not on the list:

  • Farming equipment
  • Motor and electric vehicles
  • Computers (including laptops)
  • Video game consoles
  • HVAC systems and equipment

Not sure if smart TVs fall under "electronic displays", or if they just mean commercial displays when they say that.

[-] BeatL@pawb.social 41 points 3 weeks ago

not yet ! we hope !

John deer tractor lost a case that became famous in my rural area (and elsewhere). It now have to let repair shop acces the tools and allow repair on its tractors.

I take the win ! And we continue to push forward in talks, petitions, actions and repairs (autorised or else) Support and/or use open source.

[-] TeaWithDani@lemmy.world 26 points 3 weeks ago

Farming equipment is a particularly annoying one, that and construction vehicles, are becoming increasingly locked down by proprietary software and impossible to maintain yourself. You can't even employ mechanics outside the dealer network in some instances and it will be more so in the future.

[-] Felis_Catus_Domesticus@lemmy.world 14 points 3 weeks ago

microwave ovens..

in fact, make that all kitchen appliances.

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[-] mrmanager@lemmy.today 77 points 2 weeks ago

They pass dystopian chat control with one hand and does this with the other.

[-] matlag@sh.itjust.works 25 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

The EU is a complex organization with different power poles and a variety of different interests. Add to that members of parliament do not always understand everything they vote for. And yes: you get bad things, nonsensical rules, but also good things.

Overall, I would say it's positive, but when it's bad it can be brutal.

Edit: I forgot to mention lobbying! Brussels is full of lobbyists!

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[-] ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml 14 points 2 weeks ago

Seriously, talk about major whiplash with how they do things lmao

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[-] vermaterc@lemmy.ml 55 points 3 weeks ago
[-] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 17 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Why is bicycle on the list? A bicycle is the epitome of repairability.

Edit: it got enshittified?

[-] hawgietonight@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago

Derailleur hangers come to mind, some brands use a different version in the same model lineup and model year. It's on purpose to confuse an make it difficult for the average rider to DIY.

Also Cannondale, famous for using non-standard parts (and tools) for no apparent reason.

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[-] tjoa@feddit.org 39 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

This is a step in the right direction love it. Although I got a reality check recently when I bought a washing machine and had a chat with the guy selling them new and used. He said that from 201X onwards basically the manufacturers constructed the insides of them in a single piece which is 350€ and with that it’s not economical to fix them. So yea technically they are repairable. But I have little hope that this will actually change something for consumers or the environment.

[-] blackbeans@lemmy.zip 13 points 2 weeks ago

Absolutely not enough. The EU should increase the legal warranty period instead. Standard warranty should go from 2 years to 4 years. That will increase warranty cost for manufacturers, forcing them to make higher quality products.

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[-] arc99@lemmy.world 38 points 2 weeks ago

Unfortunately there are some exemptions. Flexible / folding displays are not covered. Fitness trackers and watches are not covered.

There is also a battery regulation coming in next year to require phone batteries to be replaceable with no tools but that has loop holes too - long life batteries aren't covered, IP67 rated phones aren't covered. So you can bet your boots those two reasons will be what makers use to bullshit their way out of it.

[-] Jiral@lemmy.world 20 points 2 weeks ago

Having those rules is much better than not having them. Also, IP rating is not enough, batteries also need to have sufficient load cycles. So if it forces them to use only long life batteries that reduces the need for battery repkacements and is already something.

[-] cmhe@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago

Also software... I would love to have regulations that make it clear that the root of trust on all devices need to start by the owner of the device, not by the vendor... That would allow the end users to repair the software on their devices... Replacing it with whatever else they want. Next would be to provide hardware documentation to the owners to program their own devices... I don't expect that to happen, but I can dream.

[-] Wizard_Pope@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago

Well it's a start.

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[-] leds@feddit.dk 36 points 2 weeks ago

Water kettle stopped working, has fucking temper proof triangle head screws so can't even open it without having to buy a special screwdriver bit. name and shame : kitchenaid

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[-] SeeMarkFly@lemmy.ml 35 points 3 weeks ago

This is good.

The RIGHT to repair does you no good if the thing itself is not DESIGNED to be repaired.

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[-] Miaou@jlai.lu 27 points 2 weeks ago

I'm noticing cars are not part of the list, despite being smartphones on wheels

[-] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 27 points 2 weeks ago

Presumably the germans must have lobbied tooth and nails against this.

[-] shirro@aussie.zone 26 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

There is no repair without firmware. All hardware needs to be documented and ship with source. It hasn't been enough to be able to buy physical parts since perhaps the 80s or 90s. Everything is controlled by software. Without that right to repair is a joke. Meanwhile the surveillance industry and their well greased govt supporters are trying to lock down software. Can't have it both ways.

[-] gergolippai@lemmy.world 25 points 2 weeks ago

regulation works.

[-] UninvestedCuriosity@lemmy.world 24 points 2 weeks ago

Thank you E.U. I hope you have a run of people buying and shipping products all over the world and it pressures everyone else to follow suit.

[-] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 2 weeks ago

Wont do.
Why?
Exhibit A: Nintendo (Switch)
Exhibit B: Logitech

[-] UninvestedCuriosity@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago

I mean buying from the EU to ship to themselves. It's late here. I'm tired.

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[-] tired_n_bored@lemmy.world 24 points 2 weeks ago

For things like these I love Europe. For things like Chat Control I hate Europe

[-] NarrativeBear@lemmy.world 20 points 3 weeks ago

This is excellent news, but I really wish this same logic will spill into the recent "stop killing video games" movement as well.

That whole fight was really about consumer protection as well, not just about video games IMO.

I want to be able to be easily repair and support products that are past their manufacture supported end of life. This goes for both physical products and digital products!

[-] 87Six@lemmy.zip 19 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Can't wait to see what loopholes they will implement such that I can avoid repairing my shit and pay full price for a new one anyway because the repair costs just as much as a new one. God forbid replacing a single bearing instead of the whole wash drum, I hope the EU protects me from that like before.

[-] Th3D3k0y@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

You can repair it, you just need a proprietary driver, a torque wrench, 5 hands, 18 fingers, and wait 5 months for the part to arrive.

Or just take it to our shop where you can spend 250 bucks to fix your 260 dollar dryer.

I'm excited for an international business to sell a different version of the item for the EU which is "repairable", and one for the US which is riveted and welded closed.

[-] UnLocoPoco@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago

Hopefully, malicious compliance loopholes will be fixed eventually

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[-] dawcas@scribe.disroot.org 18 points 2 weeks ago

They won't make it so we can install any OS we want on tablets or phones, nor make drivers published as free software, right?

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[-] ikirin@feddit.org 18 points 3 weeks ago

Good, now let's increase the list and also add vacuum cleaners to it! I thought that they already were but seemingly not :(

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[-] goatinspace@feddit.org 17 points 3 weeks ago
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[-] freebee@sh.itjust.works 14 points 3 weeks ago

I have a super common type (in EU) of Philips water kettle. It's a reliable machine. Unfortunately the little filter "screen" for the pouring sprout is starting to break now, after many many years of use. I can't find a replacement. It's a super easy to manufacture part, must be a very common "breaking thing" on this widespread device... Nope.

Philips HD4646 if anyone knows a source 🙈

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[-] chahn.chris@piefed.social 14 points 2 weeks ago

I like this for a lot of obvious reasons.

I worry about corporate malicious compliance though where the cost of a replacement part costs as much as the unit or near it to make up for lost revenue from selling whole units.

They could even get to the printer ink model where they sell the initial device for cheap or at a lost with planned obsolescence of parts that almost guarantee a replacement rate.

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[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 13 points 3 weeks ago

I wonder why the US doesn’t have this law.

Hmmmm. 🤔

[-] blargh513@sh.itjust.works 17 points 3 weeks ago

I hold out the thin hope that manufacturers will not want to split their product lines any more than they have to and will make these devices available globally.

It's possible that they want to hang on to the revenue streams that making irreparable garbage generates, but it would have to be greater than the cost of designing and manufacturing a second product line for most of their stuff.

Kind of how like when dumbass apple was forced into USB-C in the EU and they finally gave up on their own charge cables globally.

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[-] Einhornyordle@feddit.org 13 points 3 weeks ago

Great in theory until companies start charging 80% of the product price for a single spare part so you'd rather buy a new product than try to repair your existing one.

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[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 12 points 3 weeks ago

WHY CAN'T WE GET THIS IN AMERICA I FUCKING HATE OUR POLITICIANS

[-] LordWiggle@lemmy.world 21 points 2 weeks ago

We have right to repair, you have freedom of pedophilia when you're a billionaire.

Maybe it's time for a revolution?

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this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2026
1738 points (100.0% liked)

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