Right to Repair — Murphy for Virginia

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The Digital Lifespan Act

Promote Sustainability: Reduce electronic waste and encourage the reuse and repair of technology.
Foster Competition: Break the monopoly of manufacturers on repair services and parts.
Drive Innovation: Encourage manufacturers to design products that are easier to repair and upgrade.
Empower Consumers: Provide consumers with the right to repair their own products or choose independent repair providers.
Support Farmers & Rural Communities: Ensure farmers have access to affordable and timely repair services for their essential equipment.
Right to Repair and Support: As an American, you deserve to have the ability to fix your own things or have a reasonable level of support when they go wrong.

The Digital Lifespan Act

Recognizing the growing environmental and economic burdens of planned obsolescence and restricted repair options, the Digital Lifespan Act establishes a fundamental right for consumers and producers to repair the products they own. This Act promotes sustainability, fosters innovation, and empowers individuals and communities to control the lifespan of their technology.

Right to Repair Mandates:

Access to Parts & Information: Manufacturers must provide consumers and independent repair providers with access to genuine parts, diagnostic software, repair manuals, and service bulletins at fair and reasonable prices.
Software Unlock Codes: Manufacturers must provide unlock codes or other necessary software tools to allow consumers and independent repair providers to bypass manufacturer-imposed restrictions on repair.
Agricultural Equipment Exemption: Farmers and agricultural businesses are explicitly granted the right to repair their own agricultural equipment, including access to parts, diagnostic tools, and software, without requiring authorization from the manufacturer.

Minimum Support & Warranty Requirements:

Consumer Electronics: All consumer electronics sold in the United States must be supported for a minimum of five (5) years, including software updates and security patches. The warranty period must be a minimum of three (3) years.
Computer & Calculator Devices: All computer and calculator devices sold in the United States must receive software support for a minimum of seven (7) years, including security updates and bug fixes. The warranty period must be a minimum of five (5) years.

Anti-Monopoly Provisions:

Prohibition of Repair Restrictions: Manufacturers are prohibited from using software or hardware restrictions to prevent consumers or independent repair providers from repairing their products.
Fair Competition Enforcement: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is empowered to investigate and prosecute manufacturers who violate the provisions of this Act.

Transparency & Disclosure:

Repairability Scores: Manufacturers are required to provide repairability scores for their products, indicating the ease of repair and availability of parts.
End-of-Life Information: Manufacturers must provide clear and accessible information about the end-of-life options for their products, including recycling and refurbishment programs.
FTC Enforcement: Allocate funding to the FTC to enforce the provisions of this Act.
State-Level Initiatives: Encourage states to adopt complementary right-to-repair legislation.

Notes for Further Refinement:

Scope of Covered Products: Define the specific categories of products covered by this Act.
Data Security Considerations: Address data security concerns related to third-party repairs.
Intellectual Property Protections: Balance right-to-repair provisions with intellectual property protections.
Manufacturer Opposition: Anticipate and address potential opposition from manufacturers.
Implementation Challenges: Develop clear guidelines and procedures for implementing the provisions of this Act.
Consumer Education: Educate consumers about their right to repair and the benefits of sustainable technology practices.