Colorado passed one of the strongest right-to-repair laws in the country. Now, before it even takes full effect, tech companies are lobbying to add so many exemptions that it becomes essentially meaningless.
The law would require manufacturers to provide parts, tools, and documentation to independent repair shops and consumers. It's the kind of legislation that repair advocates have been fighting for across the country, and Colorado actually passed it. So naturally, tech companies want to gut it.
What they're asking for
This pattern is consistent across every state where right-to-repair legislation advances. Tech companies typically seek exemptions for security-related components, software and firmware access, trade secret protections, intellectual property concerns, and parts that could "compromise user safety."
Each exemption sounds reasonable in isolation. Of course manufacturers should protect user security. Of course they should be able to safeguard trade secrets.
But when you stack all the exemptions together, you've basically exempted everything modern electronics companies claim is proprietary. Which is most of it.
Why companies fight these laws
Let's be honest about what's happening here: authorized repair is a profit center for manufacturers. They control the parts supply, set the prices, and certify the repair shops. Independent repair undercuts that business model.
I've seen this from the inside. When I was building a startup, we had to make decisions about whether to support independent repair or lock everything down. The locked-down option was more profitable short-term but created customer friction long-term.
Most large companies optimize for short-term revenue. Repair restrictions create artificial scarcity in the parts market and push customers toward buying new devices instead of fixing old ones.
The environmental cost
The right-to-repair fight isn't just about consumer rights—it's about e-waste. When devices can't be repaired economically, they get thrown away. Perfectly functional hardware ends up in landfills because a single component failed and the manufacturer won't sell you the part.
And it's not just environmental. It's a wealth transfer from consumers to manufacturers. Instead of paying $80 to replace a broken screen, you're pressured to buy a $1,000 new device.
