TL;DR
The right-to-repair movement expanded this year with backing from an unusually broad coalition — technologists, farmers, military leaders and bipartisan politicians — helped along by big tech, tariffs, and an economic downturn. Manufacturers and other companies that control parts, tools and repair instructions are actively resisting changes that would loosen their control.
What happened
Advocates for the right to repair saw significant momentum this year as support broadened beyond hobbyists to include farmers, military officials, technologists and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. That surge was aided in part by factors such as large technology firms, tariffs and weakening economic conditions, according to reporting. Companies that profit from restricting access to repair information, parts and diagnostic tools have pushed back, using lobbying and alternative business proposals. Parallel developments highlighted the escalation: an organization called Fulu offered more than $10,000 in bounties for hacks that bypass product restrictions, a move that rewarded a recent hack of a Molekule air purifier; defense industry lobbyists have tried to influence pending U.S. legislation that would have allowed servicemembers to repair equipment, promoting subscription-based repair services instead; and repair platform iFixit released a FixBot feature to help users diagnose and walk through repairs using a phone camera. The debate has moved into legislative, commercial and grassroots arenas simultaneously.
Why it matters
- Access to parts, tools and documentation affects consumers’ ability to repair devices and preserve value.
- Restrictions on repair influence costs for individuals, farms and government entities such as the military.
- Repair limitations have environmental consequences by potentially shortening product lifespans and increasing waste.
- Corporate resistance — including lobbying and alternative business models — will shape whether repair access expands or remains limited.
Key facts
- The right-to-repair movement drew support from technologists, farmers, military leaders, and politicians from both parties.
- Reporters credited big tech, tariffs, and an economic downturn with boosting the movement’s momentum this year.
- Manufacturers and other companies that control repair parts, tools, and instructions are resisting changes that would expand repair access.
- Fulu, a group that sets repair bounties, recently awarded more than $10,000 to the person who hacked a Molekule air purifier.
- Defense contractors and their lobbyists have pushed back against proposed legislation that would empower servicemembers to fix military equipment, proposing subscription repair services as an alternative.
- iFixit introduced FixBot, a chatbot in its app that can assess device health, guide repairs, and accept live camera input from users.
- The reporting was published by Boone Ashworth on December 25, 2025.
What to watch next
- Progress and outcomes of pending legislation related to military repair and broader right-to-repair laws.
- Ongoing lobbying and corporate proposals (including subscription models) from manufacturers and defense contractors.
- The growth of community and commercial repair tools and incentives, such as bounties and diagnostic chatbots.
Quick glossary
- Right to repair: The principle that owners and independent technicians should have access to the parts, tools, and documentation needed to repair products they own.
- Repair bounty: A monetary reward offered to individuals who find ways to bypass restrictions or enable repairs on devices that are otherwise locked down.
- Subscription repair service: A business model in which users pay ongoing fees to receive access to repairs, parts or maintenance, rather than buying parts or instructions outright.
- Repair chatbot: Software that uses conversational interfaces to diagnose device problems and guide users through repair steps, sometimes using a phone camera for live assistance.
Reader FAQ
What is the main debate in the right-to-repair fight?
Whether manufacturers must provide owners and independent repairers access to parts, tools and documentation needed to fix products, or whether companies can continue limiting access.
Who has backed the movement this year?
Technologists, farmers, military leaders, and politicians from both parties have been cited as supporters in the reporting.
Are companies resisting these changes?
Yes. The reporting describes active resistance from companies that profit from restricted repair access, including lobbying and alternative proposals.
Have any major laws been passed expanding repair rights?
not confirmed in the source
Are there notable repair tools or initiatives to watch?
Yes — examples in the reporting include Fulu’s repair bounties and iFixit’s FixBot repair assistant.
BOONE ASHWORTH GEAR DEC 25, 2025 6:00 AM The Gloves Are Off in the Fight for Your Right to Repair This year, the right-to-repair movement got a boost from—surprisingly—big tech,…
Sources
- The Gloves Are Off in the Fight for Your Right to Repair
- American farmer pushes for right to repair equipment amid …
- U.S. Farmers' Struggles Run Deeper Than Tariffs
- American farmers paying price for Trump's failures | Opinion
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