General Discussion

Oneironaut

(6,226 posts)

44. The issue here is DRM as well

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 11:13 AM

Wednesday

It’s not that owners don’t have the skill to repair their equipment. They can’t - it’s a violation of the terms of using the equipment. They can’t even try to repair anything on the equipment because of DRM. Instead, they need to send the equipment back to the company to get it repaired, which allows that company to charge ridiculous repair fees and maintain complete ownership of repairing their product.

John Deere, for example, uses equipment locks and DRM to lock equipment owners out of repairing their own equipment, which they previously would have been able to do. It does this to shut other companies out, charge ridiculous repair fees, and, maintain a monopoly. It’s their business model to make the line go up, because selling equipment alone didn’t satisfy their corporate greed.

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Asking for DUers opinion on "Right to Repair" Do you think it is an important issue? [View all] Coventina Tuesday OP

It started with farmers spending $$$$$$ on tractors/combines with no ability to repair hlthe2b Tuesday #1

Speaking of Amazon, I recently needed a skin graph after my MOHs surgery. Dr. ordered it from Amazon. Who knew! SheilaAnn Tuesday #3

Well, they want to sell everything... hlthe2b Tuesday #8

I thought she was kidding at first but voila. $8,000 worth. She said they do have an extensive medical dept. n/t SheilaAnn Tuesday #12

Amazon has its own online pharmacy. ananda Tuesday #24

What's preventing repair of this item? bucolic_frolic Tuesday #2

There is no way for me to disassemble the heater to access the area Coventina Tuesday #7

Oh, now I see where you're coming from bucolic_frolic Tuesday #14

I think that's called a "tip switch", because it triggers when the device tips over. surrealAmerican Tuesday #4

Point taken. But I also feel that "planned obsolescence" is a major problem as well. Coventina Tuesday #10

Absolutely! SheltieLover Tuesday #5

Having the legal right to repair is not the same as having stuff that is possible to repair. Intractable Tuesday #6

I understand and agree. I guess I was envisioning a return to a time (haha!) Coventina Tuesday #11

Automation and cheap Asian labor has made it cheaper to replace than to repair. eppur_se_muova Tuesday #20

Repair shops and repair people remain common in low-income areas Prairie Gates Wednesday #42

I think it's an extremely important issue canetoad Tuesday #9

Pollution and waste is corporate design. Blue Full Moon Tuesday #13

Ask any farmer that owns a large piece of equipment made by John Deere A HERETIC I AM Tuesday #15

Right to ForgedCrank Tuesday #16

"The goal is that you will own nothing and like it." Jedi Guy Tuesday #35

Any device that is held together with screws can be opened. :) eppur_se_muova Tuesday #17

As "A HERETIC I AM" posted earlier, John Deere is the poster child for walkingman Tuesday #18

Have you heard of the black market for John Deere software? A HERETIC I AM Tuesday #30

Frequently screws are hidden under decals. Prairie_Seagull Tuesday #19

"Removing sticker violates warranty" is old hat on hard drives and other computer components. eppur_se_muova Tuesday #22

BMW has applied for a patent on a proprietary screw, so only their dealers and servicemen can repair your car. eppur_se_muova Tuesday #21

YES, I think it's important Raine Tuesday #23

"Right to Repair" doesn't mean it has to be easy to repair or that all parts have to be made available MichMan Tuesday #25

The issue here is DRM as well Oneironaut Wednesday #44

If you own a John Deere product it sure is. It needs to be stopped now before more of us with other products get stuck. marble falls Tuesday #26

yes. i need to be able to fix it myself rampartd Tuesday #27

"Right to repair" is extremely important, but your issue is not one of right to repair. NT. mahatmakanejeeves Tuesday #28

While it's not a burning priority for most of us right now. . . DinahMoeHum Tuesday #29

Trinket rich but equity poor. CrispyQ Tuesday #31

Don't get me started about cars Wednesdays Tuesday #32

Yes! Tasmanian Devil Tuesday #33

See if you can find a exact model cheap, that doesn't work, but you can pull parts off of it. n/t aggiesal Tuesday #34

I believe in a right to repair kbowman Tuesday #36

This is bigger than repairs MadameButterfly Tuesday #37

Not me. ForgedCrank Tuesday #39

Everything shouldn't be computerized and high tech MadameButterfly Wednesday #41

products made and not quality maliaSmith Tuesday #38

We have an appliance repair guy who keeps telling us MadameButterfly Wednesday #43

He is 100% correct. Newer models are for energy efficiency, not durability or even serviceability dalton99a Wednesday #45

i wonder if they are even saving energy if you consider MadameButterfly Wednesday #47

What really annoys me... CaptainTruth Tuesday #40

YES rictofen Wednesday #48

That ship sailed a long time ago with American businesses. GoodRaisin Wednesday #46