The game industry unites and develops lobbying activities to drive the "right to repair your gaming machine" bill to disposal

A bill to see "the right to repair hardware" is submitted in 7 states such as the state of Nebraska in the USA. If this bill is concluded, the user can ask the manufacturer to provide genuine parts and repair manuals so that repair shops other than manufacturers can repair in case electric appliances such as game machines break down, Manufacturers, mainly in the game industry, are lobbying to make bills obsolete.

The Video Game Industry Is Lobbying Against Your Right to Repair Consoles - Motherboard
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/the-video-game-industry-is-lobbying-against-your-right-to-repair-consoles

Hardware manufacturers such as game machines and smart phones restrict the repair destinations to some vendors designated by the manufacturer or the manufacturer in the event of a product failure, and in the unlikely event that other vendors and users themselves have repaired In case, we have set up a user contract to terminate the manufacturer's warranty after that.

However, "It is a natural right to repair your hardware if it breaks down" "Manufacturers should not prevent users and third parties from repairing their products," "Manufacturers publish service manuals, "Right to repair" that guarantees the right to provide genuine parts and repair "has been drawing attention, criticism against manufacturers restricting repair action is increasing.


For example, PlayStation 4 "Blue Light Death Phenomenon", Xbox 360"Red Ring of Death"Are known, and there are many voices that wish to expand the option to repair so that the user can eliminate the defect inherent in the game machine as soon as possible. However, if Sony or Microsoft sticks a seal on the screw of the game machine and breaks the seal for repair, the guarantee is discarded and the right to repair by the user is not guaranteed. The act of sealing with such a sticker is regarded as illegal by "Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act" established in 1975 (federal law prohibiting comprehensive invalidation of after-market repair warranty), but consumers In order to appeal to the manufacturer, the lawsuit costs too much, so the reality is that the user is being forced to cry.

In order to correct such bad practices and guarantee the right to repair users, in the 7 provinces of Nebraska State, New York State, Minnesota State, Tennessee State, Kansas State, Massachusetts State, Illinois State in the United States, A bill to provide repair parts to repair parts and oblige the release of the repair manual is submitted to Congress for deliberation. If the software lock is incorporated in this bill for the purpose of hindering repair, manufacturers are required to provide software tools and firmware for restoring the terminals to their original state, so for example, a smartphone such as iPhone Will be forced to provide an unlock tool.


However, according to Motherboard, nearly all the major game console manufacturers are trying to lobby the Nebraska state, which is known for the toughest legislation, to pursue the right bill to repair. In the letter addressed to Senator Lydia Brashes, ESA etc. pointed out that Motherboard insists that "legislation that recognizes the right to repair is unnecessary to threaten consumer safety".

Manufacturers' claims are roughly classified into three categories: "repairing is not safe", "there is a risk of cyber security problems arising from repairing", "repairing could lead to intellectual property theft" And that. However, it is pointed out that the assertion of the manufacturers is overwhelmingly extremely abstract expression and does not specifically refer to what kind of trouble will occur depending on the bill. Also, since this bill does not require the provision of stronger tools than originally provided to repair dealers approved by game makers, safety and security are not a reason, and regarding intellectual property Because the special law to protect trade secrets already exists, it is not a matter of copyright law or patent law, it is not a matter of mere contractual matter, it is not a reason to hinder the right to repair, Motherboard is dismissed.

If a bill to protect the "right to repair" in the United States is established, there is a possibility that a voice calling for similar rights may be raised not only in other states in the United States but also outside the United States, so it is currently being deliberated Trends in 7 provinces are likely to attract consumers and manufacturers worldwide.