Competition Commission publishes new Right to Repair rules for South Africa

Off to a good start


These should be granted on fair and non-discriminatory terms. OEMs are also warned against employing software locks, activation barriers or artificial parts pairing that prevent independent repairs.

“Examples of such conduct include, but are not limited to, software that prevents replacement parts from functioning without OEM activation,” the Commission said.
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does it scrap our DMCA 1201 equivalent? because otherwise its toothless.

Electronic Communications and Transactions (ECT) Act 25 of 2002
Section 28O (The "SA DMCA"): This specific section outlaws the bypassing of Technological Protection Measures (TPMs)

Basically makes it illegal to jailbreak any device that uses manufacturer controlled encryption.

if you cant control the software, the hardware is not yours.
 
noble ideas, but as usual these mega-corporations will find ways around them.
including ways to make more e waste out of perfectly functional devices.

I mean lets start with something simple like removable batteries, a great idea that should be super commonplace
they already found ways around that.
The High-Durability Loophole: Smartphone manufacturers pushed for—and won—a major exception. A phone can remain sealed (requiring professional rather than consumer replacement) if its battery retains at least 83% capacity after 500 cycles or 80% capacity after 1,000 full charge cycles, provided the device also achieves an IP67 (or higher) water and dust resistance rating. This allows premium brands to bypass consumer-swappable designs by making sealed, highly durable batteries instead
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Jet-Fighter7700 said:
noble ideas, but as usual these mega-corporations will find ways around them.
including ways to make more e waste out of perfectly functional devices.

I mean lets start with something simple like removable batteries, a great idea that should be super commonplace
they already found ways around that.
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correct, the way to keep the companies honest is not to write laws on what they can't do (they will just find workarounds).

It's writing laws that give the consumer rights on what they own.
 
Sapphiron said:
does it scrap our DMCA 1201 equivalent? because otherwise its toothless.

Electronic Communications and Transactions (ECT) Act 25 of 2002
Section 28O (The "SA DMCA"): This specific section outlaws the bypassing of Technological Protection Measures (TPMs)

Basically makes it illegal to jailbreak any device that uses manufacturer controlled encryption.

if you cant control the software, the hardware is not yours.
Click to expand...
I don't know what it says and can't even find the section and don't think it applies like that. But under the guidelines manufacturers would be prevented from employing such measures to prevent 3rd party repairs.
 
Bravo.

It's one of those things people don't think about because apart from cars they are used to throwing things away.

I recently had a problem with my Bosch dishwasher and I can tell you this was an absolutely joy - a blueprint for every other manufacturer. Independent repair man, same day service, original OEM new parts arrived within 3 days and disassembly and reassembly was a breeze. All the details are available online if you want to repair it yourself.

I wish all appliance manufacturers designed and did business like Bosch.
 
Johand said:
Bravo.

It's one of those things people don't think about because apart from cars they are used to throwing things away.

I recently had a problem with my Bosch dishwasher and I can tell you this was an absolutely joy - a blueprint for every other manufacturer. Independent repair man, same day service, original OEM new parts arrived within 3 days and disassembly and reassembly was a breeze. All the details are available online if you want to repair it yourself.

I wish all appliance manufacturers designed and did business like Bosch.
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I think your scenario highlights several important points. The primary one is that Right to Repair is an international issue. It is completely pointless for a single country like SA to make rules for products which are manufactured globally. And let's be clear, almost everything is nowadays. The chances of a manufacturer changing their product and marketing to meet specific SA requirements are zero. IMO its feelgood legislation with zero actual consequences.
 
Swa said:
I don't know what it says and can't even find the section and don't think it applies like that. But under the guidelines manufacturers would be prevented from employing such measures to prevent 3rd party repairs.
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are they prevented from putting an encryption lock on the bootloader and calling it "secure boot"?
 
Sapphiron said:
are they prevented from putting an encryption lock on the bootloader and calling it "secure boot"?
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If it prevents repair and servicing though I don't see how it would. But as above I don't see how this will be enforced on global manufacturers.
 
Swa said:
If it prevents repair and servicing though I don't see how it would. But as above I don't see how this will be enforced on global manufacturers.
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See this is where enforcement is another factor. You can force a global manufacturer to not design a locked down product, but you can make it illegal for them to prosecute someone who jailbreaks their product.
 
Sapphiron said:
See this is where enforcement is another factor. You can force a global manufacturer to not design a locked down product, but you can make it illegal for them to prosecute someone who jailbreaks their product.
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Enforcement has always been the issue. We do not have the clout the US or the EU has to just hand out fines.
 
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