Nov 01, 2021 21:00:00

'Right to repair' has expanded and game consoles can be repaired, but only for terminals equipped with an optical drive

The United

States Copyright Office , which governs copyright registrations under US copyright law, has adopted new rules recognizing ' rights to repair.' The rule exempts some of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that businesses have used to prevent consumers from repairing their own devices. The range in which you can repair the game machine with your own hands will be expanded.

NewsNet Issue 930 | US Copyright Office
https://www.copyright.gov/newsnet/2021/930.html

Eighth Triennial Section 1201 Proceeding (2021) | US Copyright Office
https://www.copyright.gov/1201/2021/

US Copyright Office grants right to repair video game consoles as long as only the optical drive is broken | TechSpot
https://www.techspot.com/news/92001-us-copyright-office-grants-right-repair-video-game.html

The 'right to repair' is that consumers should be able to repair the product without going through the manufacturer. For example, in the game industry, game consoles have long been labeled with a sticker stating 'If you remove this sticker, the warranty is invalid', and users can repair the game console without permission through a third-party repair company. I was preventing it. However, the seal was illegal in the light of US law and has become a problem in recent years, accelerating the movement for the right to repair in various industries.

Why is Microsoft, Sony, etc. continuing to use the 'invalid when peeled off' seal, even though it is illegal? --GIGAZINE

by Eirik Solheim

On the other hand, in response to the submission of a bill requesting the right to repair game consoles, in 2017 the game industry is uniting to lobby for a bill that guarantees the right to repair. Was reported.

The game industry is uniting and lobbying to abolish the 'right to repair their game consoles' bill --GIGAZINE

Although smartphones and laptops are not covered in the UK, a law guaranteeing the right to repair has already been enforced, and President Biden has instructed the United States to create a regulation prohibiting manufacturers from limiting the right to repair . It is reported that.

Meanwhile, the United States Copyright Office has adopted a new rule recognizing the right to repair. Manufacturers have neglected the right to repair because of the DMCA, but the new rules say, 'It is a legally acquired device that includes a computer program in the control and function of the terminal, and is intended for access to copyrighted material. If it is necessary to avoid the copyright for diagnosis, maintenance, and repair, 'the right to repair is granted.

'The rules are broad enough to cover any changes and clearly prohibit smuggling and piracy of devices,' said TechSpot, a tech media outlet. ..

However, the rule states that 'repairing a device in this rule restores the device to a working state according to its original specifications, or returns the device to a working state based on changes in the specifications allowed by the device. In the case of game consoles, 'device repair' is limited to repairing or replacing the optical drive, and it is necessary to restore evasive or disabled technical safeguards. ' It seems that it is limited to repairing the optical drive part.

In other words, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 digital edition , Xbox Series S for the game machine is not equipped with an optical drive such as are prohibited repair. Also, with or without an optical drive, repairs of non-optical drives are only permitted by OEMs or authorized third-party repairers.

Regarding this rule, TechSpot said, 'Although there are restrictions, the new rule is an important step towards reforming the'right to repair'. DMCA section 1201 repairs your device yourself or a third-party repairer. It has been abused by manufacturers to limit the ability of consumers to make choices, 'he said, making it a major step in the process of expanding the right to repair.