Former Content Creator, Editorial & Creative Team, The Public Interest Network
Tech giant Microsoft is finally listening to the thousands of Americans who want the right to repair their stuff.
On Oct. 7, Microsoft announced a commitment to research the benefits of making repair tools and documentation available beyond its authorized repair network, and to then act on those findings by the end of 2022. The mission of Right to Repair is to give consumers and small businesses the necessary access to parts, tools and service information so they can repair their products themselves without having to pay an arm and a leg to the manufacturer. It helps both consumers (by reducing costs) and the environment (by reducing toxic electronic waste).
“Microsoft has come a long way, and it needed to” said PIRG Senior Right to Repair Campaign Director Nathan Proctor. “Over the last three years, PIRG members and supporters sent in nearly 20,000 comments to Microsoft calling on the company to embrace repair and stop punishing refurbishers.”
“Every company should be aware that Right to Repair is coming. Now is the time to get ahead of the curve and embrace repair.”