You Don’t Own It If You Can’t Fix It: The Fight for the Right to Repair
About
Episode Summary
In this episode of Terms of Service, host Mary Camacho speaks with Gay Gordon-Byrne, Executive Director of the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, about how manufacturers are rewriting the rules of ownership in the digital age. Drawing on decades of experience in enterprise computing and leasing, Gay shares how restrictive repair policies—hidden behind software locks, proprietary tools, and legal fine print—are quietly eroding our rights as consumers.
From absurd real-world examples to legislative progress across the U.S., this conversation reveals what’s at stake when we lose the ability to fix the things we own—and how the Right to Repair movement is pushing back.
Key Takeaways
- Repair is a right, not a loophole. Companies have used copyright law, contracts, and DRM to block basic repairs—redefining ownership in the process.
- You don’t void your warranty by repairing your own device. Under U.S. law, that’s been protected since the 1970s.
- Tractors, phones, and dishwashers now run on software. That means repair is increasingly a legal and digital issue, not just mechanical.
- Fixing things is a cultural practice. It's being squeezed out by design, but it offers economic, environmental, and emotional benefits.
- State-level legislation is gaining traction. While federal regulators stall, local organizing and public pressure are driving change.
Topics Covered / Timestamped Sections
- 04:30 – Understanding Right to Repair - From leasing and enterprise sales to grassroots repair advocacy.
- 08:10 – The slow erosion of repair rights through software and service bundling
- 10:50 – What “Right to Repair” actually means—and what it doesn’t
- 12:52 – The Shift in Consumer Expectations.
- 13:50 – The Economics of Repairability.
- 15:40 – Legal Implications of Ownership.
- 19:00 – Tractors, cars, and consumer electronics: software as the new lock
- 24:00 – The Global Perspective on Repair Culture.
- 27:26 – The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the myth of “voided” warranties.
- 28:00 – Legislative Changes and Consumer Power
- 31:25 – Antitrust and tying agreements: the legal dimension of forced service
- 35:05 – The Role of Consumers in Advocacy- France’s repairability index and global momentum for consumer rights.
- 45:38 – Stories from the field: absurd repair scenarios and growing public awareness.
Guest Bio and Links
Gay Gordon-Byrne – Executive Director of the Digital Right to Repair Coalition (Repair.org). With decades of experience in the computer leasing industry, Gay has spent the past decade fighting to restore ownership and repair rights for consumers and independent businesses across the U.S.
Resources Mentioned
- Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (FTC.gov) – Protecting U.S. consumers from deceptive warranty practices
- France’s Repairability Index – Labeling systems that inform buyers on repair potential
- iFixit – Repair guides, community support, and advocacy
Further Reading / Related Episodes
Call to Action
What if you couldn’t fix your own tools, car, or phone—even when it’s a simple repair? Listen to Gay Gordon-Byrne explain why the right to repair is about more than gadgets—it’s about autonomy, sustainability, and democratic accountability.
🎧 Listen now: Episode Link
Credits
Host: Mary Camacho
Guest: Gay Gordon-Byrne
Produced by Terms of Service Podcast
Sound Design: Arthur Vincent and Sonor Lab
Co-Producers: Nicole Klau Ibarra & Mary Camacho