Louis Rossmann Starts a GoFundMe to Get "Right To Repair" Legistation Passed Through a Direct Ballot Initiative.

[agizmo]

Summary

Louis Rossmann, electronics repairman and YouTuber, has started a nonprofit and GoFundMe campaign to fight to get "right to repair" legislation passed through direct ballot initiatives. For years Louis has talked about the importance of right to repair and how it has become more difficult to repair devices. Louis plans to use the money raised from the GoFundMe campaign to hire the same firm that successfully got a right to repair direct ballot initiative against the automotive industry passed in Massachusetts.

 

Quotes

Quote

My name is Louis Rossmann; I run a laptop repair store,  advocate for Right to Repair, and teach component level electronics repair. I have started a 501c4 nonprofit called Repair Preservation Group Action Fund which seeks to get Right to Repair legislation passed, through a direct ballot initiative. Direct ballot initiatives allow citizens to vote on legislation. This way, people - NOT politicians, decide on whether something becomes a law.

Right to Repair is the concept that you should be able to choose who repairs the device you own. We believe you should not be stuck going back to the manufacturer or dealer because parts, chips, manuals or tools are restricted by the manufacturer. Right now, manufacturers collude with a number of companies on a regular basis to keep repair shops & end users from being able to buy parts to fix their devices, going so far as to restrict access to a battery charging IC - one of the most common chips to fail in modern consumer electronics!

 

My thoughts

I think what Louis is doing is important, brave, and awesome. Despite seeing news articles over the years talking about governments talking about right to repair, I've set to see one pass a law in the US. This direct ballot initiative could be the first law passed at a state level and set a precedent for how device manufacturers need to treat repairability going forward. Loius explains in the video linked below that the initiative passed in Massachusetts for the automotive industry didn't cause the manufactures to stop doing business in the state. Instead, it made them change how they operated. Getting tech companies like Apple, Google, etc., to make parts and technical documentation available to consumers and independent third-party repair shops will go a long way in helping reduce the amount of ewaste produced by the US.

 

Sources

https://www.gofundme.com/f/lets-get-right-to-repair-passed

 

[Fasterthannothing]

Doubtful right to repair for technology will happen. Tech companies have way way way deeper pockets than car manufactures. Also people working on their own car is already a big thing. Car companies didn't loose that much by having to allow right to repair for your car. I mean just look at the amount of auto shops compared to computer shops. Apple especially and other phone and technology companies have a lot to loose by allowing people to easily repair their electronics.

[captain_to_fire]

Tech companies can always lobby congress so that the bill is vetoed. Not that it’s the right thing, it’s just that it has always been this way for tech companies. 

[Tensimeter]

19 minutes ago, SlidewaysZ said:

Doubtful right to repair for technology will happen. Tech companies have way way way deeper pockets than car manufactures. Also people working on their own car is already a big thing. Car companies didn't loose that much by having to allow right to repair for your car. I mean just look at the amount of auto shops compared to computer shops. Apple especially and other phone and technology companies have a lot to loose by allowing people to easily repair their electronics.

It may be difficult, but I believe this cause is more than worth having to fight through Apple and other's draconian rules.

 

Even if takes a few million dollars, having right to repair could save consumers unimaginable amounts of money, and even more importantly, could help the environment by reusing more instead of buying more.

 

For those curious, here is an excellent introduction and overview of right to repair and why it is important:

 

[RejZoR]

I think his bitching over Apple is annoying, but I respect his idea and direction he's going.

[Video Beagle]

While I go write my congressman about bailouts for the buggy whip industry, someone send this to Louis to see if he can identify the part against his “cause”:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D9hNkj6GaA

 

 

[AndreiArgeanu]

2 hours ago, Video Beagle said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D9hNkj6GaA

 

Video quite literally has nothing in it about repair

[AndreiArgeanu]

7 hours ago, captain_to_fire said:

Tech companies can always lobby congress so that the bill is vetoed. Not that it’s the right thing, it’s just that it has always been this way for tech companies. 

He is very aware of this and has experienced it himself. What Louis wants to do is a direct ballot initiative which basically goes past all the politicians and goes straight to the citizens of the state to vote on whether to pass the bill or not. At which point no amount misinformation from paid lobbyists will help.

 

He explains some of this in like the first 3-4 minutes of this video

 

[AndreiArgeanu]

Just a reminder, this is not a bill specifically dedicated to apple, the right to repair bill is useful for all products, from appliances like fridges and ovens to medical equipment like intubators and all the way to phones, laptops and deskops.

 

He mostly speaks about apple because that's what he is familiar with, since he owns and runs an apple repair shop. However there are examples he has given from other industries where right to repair is an issue like in the medical industry for example.

[Donut417]

7 hours ago, captain_to_fire said:

Tech companies can always lobby congress so that the bill is vetoed. Not that it’s the right thing, it’s just that it has always been this way for tech companies. 

One issue. Federal vs State rights. States have the right to regulate business within their boarders. Second this is a ballot initiative. Meaning the people vote on it directly. The legislature can’t do jack shit to block it. The only reason Marijuana is legal in Michigan is due to a ballot initiative. 

[Beerzerker]

8 hours ago, SlidewaysZ said:

Doubtful right to repair for technology will happen. Tech companies have way way way deeper pockets than car manufactures. Also people working on their own car is already a big thing. Car companies didn't loose that much by having to allow right to repair for your car. I mean just look at the amount of auto shops compared to computer shops. Apple especially and other phone and technology companies have a lot to loose by allowing people to easily repair their electronics.

Referring to car companies, it's not about what they had to lose, it's about what they had to gain.
They've tried several times in the past to restrict/stop people from fixing their own vehicles, one from about 15 years ago was referred to as a "Consumer protection act" but it also had language in it that specifically stated it would be illegal for YOU to work on your own vehicle if it was less than 10 years old - And I mean any and all repairs. In short, any and all work done period could only be done by.....
The dealer and no one else.

Add that up in terms of costs to you for the work and how high that BS was stacked too.

The "Excuse" for it was said to be due to shady shops/mechs causing alot of problems with bad/faulty work and while that may be true, the language of it went way too far and everyone with a working brain knew it, so it didn't pass - That time. 
There have been other attempts at this since, including around that same time to restrict/stop aftermarket parts from being made/refurbed but fortunately that also failed to pass. That would have shut down places like Auto Zone for example, not good at all for us but really GOOD for the dealers.

I get the idea this is cars vs computers but in the end it's the same thing.
 

5 hours ago, RejZoR said:

I think his bitching over Apple is annoying, but I respect his idea and direction he's going.

Bitching or not, if no one speaks up you already know things won't get any better for us - Ever.
He's fighting a Mt. Everest sized hill but at least he's trying and has the guts to do it.
Nothing will ever change until someone takes the banner and runs with it.

[RejZoR]

@Beerzerker

The issue is when you just start bitching like a raging hater and makes it look like literally anything Apple does is just poorly and terrible. Which we know just isn't the case. On the other hand we have phones like ASUS ROG 5 that in 2021 snaps in half. In era when even budget 300€ phones don't do that. Any massive outrage over it? Not really. Here and there some say something over it, but you see bunch of idiots defending it coz it's has amazing specs on paper. Like, who gives a damn, phone is worthless because ASUS couldn't be bothered to do basic construction right. Same stuff Apple got endlessly ridiculed for iPads bending in weak spot. I just hate these dumb double standards some seem to apply.

[Beerzerker]

4 minutes ago, RejZoR said:

@Beerzerker

The issue is when you just start bitching like a raging hater and makes it look like literally anything Apple does is just poorly and terrible. Which we know just isn't the case. On the other hand we have phones like ASUS ROG 5 that in 2021 snaps in half. In era when even budget 300€ phones don't do that. Any massive outrage over it? Not really. Here and there some say something over it, but you see bunch of idiots defending it coz it's has amazing specs on paper. Like, who gives a damn, phone is worthless because ASUS couldn't be bothered to do basic construction right. Same stuff Apple got endlessly ridiculed for iPads bending in weak spot. I just hate these dumb double standards some seem to apply.

I get all that and you have some good points, my thing is at least someone is trying to change things which is apparently more than most are willing or even make the effort to do.
 

[WkdPaul]

11 minutes ago, RejZoR said:

*snip*

whataboutisms aren't good arguments against something anything.

 

I personally stopped watching his videos because of his constant ranting, doesn't mean he's wrong, or that he should stop ranting because there are worse products out there.

[AndreiArgeanu]

11 minutes ago, RejZoR said:

The issue is when you just start bitching like a raging hater and makes it look like literally anything Apple does is just poorly and terrible. Which we know just isn't the case. On the other hand we have phones like ASUS ROG 5 that in 2021 snaps in half. In era when even budget 300€ phones don't do that. Any massive outrage over it? Not really. Here and there some say something over it, but you see bunch of idiots defending it coz it's has amazing specs on paper. Like, who gives a damn, phone is worthless because ASUS couldn't be bothered to do basic construction right.

Asus barely sells any phones compared to Apple or other corporation, you can't expect massive outrage for a product that doesn't really sell, frankly enough, I've never seen anyone yet, before or during the pandemic to own any kind of gaming phone. Regardless Louis complains about Apple because that's the industry that he works in, he repairs Apple devices and shares with people the issues he sees in them. And whenever he has an issue with a different device that isn't made by Apple he points it out and shows the issue as well, he's done this for example with thinkpads, or with Samsung when they followed in Apple's foot steps and started serializing some parts in some of their devices(I think the A51).

 

Additionally he also has praised Apple devices numerous times, and mentions things Apple has done right with their devices. Most of the things he does mention and criticize related to Apple is their bad practices, and common issues present in some of their devices that they have refused to release repair programme for.  He doesn't often criticize other devices because he doesn't have first hand experience with them.

[StDragon]

Donated.

[StDragon]

1 hour ago, Donut417 said:

One issue. Federal vs State rights. States have the right to regulate business within their boarders. Second this is a ballot initiative. Meaning the people vote on it directly. The legislature can’t do jack shit to block it. The only reason Marijuana is legal in Michigan is due to a ballot initiative. 

FYI - When in conflict, Federal law supersedes state law. International treaties supersede Federal law; but when in conflict with the US constitution, the constitution supersedes the treaty within the US.

 

With regards to controlled substances such as Marijuana, while it may be legal in the state, the feds can still bust your ass if they wanted too.

[Donut417]

42 minutes ago, StDragon said:

FYI - When in conflict, Federal law supersedes state law. International treaties supersede Federal law; but when in conflict with the US constitution, the constitution supersedes the treaty within the US.

 

With regards to controlled substances such as Marijuana, while it may be legal in the state, the feds can still bust your ass if they wanted too.

If that’s the case then California’s emissions law would be voided. But it’s still legal. The Federal courts already rules that states have the right to regulate, when they upheld California’s Net Neutrality law. Thirdly Federal law doesn’t always trump state law. Minimum wage is higher in many states then the Federal 7.25 a hour. 
 

Also generally the Feds can only get you for weed if your on Federal Property. That includes the interstate. Federal agents still have to play by the states rules as well. Also unless a rule is explicitly stated in the constitution as being a Federal power, it’s left up to the states. 
 

No constitutional rules exist for drugs, internet regulations or for right to repair. So states ha e all the power and authority in these matters, even if there is a federal law. 

[BuckGup]

10 hours ago, SlidewaysZ said:

Doubtful right to repair for technology will happen. Tech companies have way way way deeper pockets than car manufactures. Also people working on their own car is already a big thing. Car companies didn't loose that much by having to allow right to repair for your car. I mean just look at the amount of auto shops compared to computer shops. Apple especially and other phone and technology companies have a lot to loose by allowing people to easily repair their electronics.

That's not really true anymore. Newer cars are having features that you cannot fix unless you have special proprietary tools/software that only dealers/manufacturers have access too. Teslas are notoriously hard to repair and things like heated seats are becoming software packages you pay monthly for. The right to repair is needed across every industry badly 

[CivBase]

2 hours ago, RejZoR said:

@Beerzerker

The issue is when you just start bitching like a raging hater and makes it look like literally anything Apple does is just poorly and terrible. Which we know just isn't the case.

He's an Apple repair tech.  He runs a shop that exclusively repairs Apple devices - and only a subset of them at that.  He talks about Apple products and practices because it's what he deals with all day every day.  He has a history of giving Apple credit when they do good and he regularly points out that most other major tech companies are similarly terrible.  Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, LG, etc also have terrible track records when it comes to repair, but Louis can't share as much information about them because he doesn't repair those devices.  If Apple were the only problem, Right to Repair would not be necessary; anyone who cared about repair would just buy non-Apple products.  But that's not the case and that's why his effort to advance the Right to Repair movement is important.

 

Regardless what anyone may think of Louis, I really like his approach to Right to Repair.  He cares about more than Apple and more than just consumer electronics. He doesn't want to force manufacturers to re-design products for repairability or make their designs open source. He doesn't even want to force manufacturers to offer repair services or to supply parts. He just wants to stop manufacturers from going out of their way to screw over independent repair.

 

For instance, a manufacturer shouldn't be obligated to sell a part exclusively to another manufacturer in order to do business with them. Third parties should be allowed to ship used goods and parts through customs without having the seized as "counterfeits". Third parties shouldn't have to "partner" with manufacturers just to be able to buy parts. Third parties should be permitted to share technical details about a product (eg independently-developed board views or circuit diagrams).

 

That's what I want to see. I'd much rather see independent repair start with better legal protection than have a bunch of half-baked, hard-to-enforce regulations piled onto manufacturers who will inevitably find loopholes anyways.  Regulations like that may be worth pursuing eventually, but I think starting with them sets the movement up for failure.

[jagdtigger]

7 hours ago, RejZoR said:

I think his bitching over Apple is annoying

Ive seen quite a few of his videos, id say its well justified that he is complaining about apple. Their "engineers" make the dumbest mistakes ever.....

[Blademaster91]

I think people are too focused on Louis complaining about Apple, he is an Apple repair tech so of course he talks about apple. And his complaints with apple are justified because Apple is the one doing anti-consumer crap like serializing components to the device that forces you to go to the store, instead of having other options which can also be more cost effective to the consumer.  Other companies are following the trend of serializing components, for example Samsung with the A51 fingerprint reader, or laptop manufacturers moving away from RAM slots, and M.2 slots, and soldering everything onto the motherboard.

However right to repair is about more than just phones or laptops, its about being able to obtain parts and schematics for lots of things like your refrigerator, washing machine, or an infotainment display in a Tesla for example as the infotainment screen is a key part to driving the car.

[StDragon]

1 hour ago, Donut417 said:

If that’s the case then California’s emissions law would be voided. But it’s still legal. The Federal courts already rules that states have the right to regulate, when they upheld California’s Net Neutrality law. Thirdly Federal law doesn’t always trump state law. Minimum wage is higher in many states then the Federal 7.25 a hour. 
 

Also generally the Feds can only get you for weed if your on Federal Property. That includes the interstate. Federal agents still have to play by the states rules as well. Also unless a rule is explicitly stated in the constitution as being a Federal power, it’s left up to the states. 
 

No constitutional rules exist for drugs, internet regulations or for right to repair. So states ha e all the power and authority in these matters, even if there is a federal law. 

Depends on how the laws are written as to whether or not supersedance applies. The Feds can mandate a minimum wage whereas the states can increase that rate, but not craft law that mandates below it. Also, there's a lot of laws on the books (both state and federal) that are dubious. It's only when they get tested in court does the rubber-meet-the-road in terms of validity.

 

As for federal drug laws; it's my limited understanding that while you're not likely to get busted as a primary offense, it could as a secondary to another issue. That whole "throwing the book" at them still applies.

[GDRRiley]

3 hours ago, RejZoR said:

@Beerzerker

The issue is when you just start bitching like a raging hater and makes it look like literally anything Apple does is just poorly and terrible.

apple electric engineers and cooling design do deserve the hate. who the hell puts high voltage backlit right next to a data line?

butterfly keyboard is fine even though the day we launched a laptop with it we added it to extended support

the NVIDIA GPU issues came about because apple acts like 95C+ is good for a laptop

at this point their view of your data is oh well given they don't have any way of removing it if your laptop is not working.

they consistently work to put more software locks on parts to phones. replacing the rear camera stops face ID from working ect.

the only 2 things apple gets constantly right are good screens and a solid chassis, the first of which is mostly just choosing a supplier and a few requirements.

[Heliian]

2 hours ago, StDragon said:

FYI - When in conflict, Federal law supersedes state law. International treaties supersede Federal law; but when in conflict with the US constitution, the constitution supersedes the treaty within the US.

 

With regards to controlled substances such as Marijuana, while it may be legal in the state, the feds can still bust your ass if they wanted too.

This imo is one of the biggest problems with America.  The patchwork of regulations and the inability for even neighbouring states to use common channels is appauling and is really holding back the advancement of the country as a whole.

 

I fully support right to repair but unless you can find a backer with tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars to throw at it, companies like Apple will just make their devices even harder to repair even if you have a right to fix it.