Oregon residents have gained greater control over their electronic devices as State Governor Tina Kotek signed the new right-to-repair bill, SB 1596, into law. Following the footsteps of California and other states, this bill aims to ensure that manufacturers provide consumers and repair shops with necessary documentation, tools, parts, and software for device repairs at fair prices. Notably, the Oregon law is the first in the United States to prohibit device manufacturers from employing parts pairing.

Parts pairing is a controversial tactic employed by manufacturers that dictate which components must be used during device repairs. Last year, iFixit lowered the iPhone 14's repairability score due to Apple's use of parts pairing, which restricted the use of non-genuine parts. The bill intends to address this issue and ensure repair options are more accessible.

Although a significant step, the new law does have some limitations. It only applies to devices manufactured after January 1st, 2025, excluding electronic products made before that date. Furthermore, the law does not specify the minimum number of years manufacturers should provide repair support for their devices. Additionally, video game consoles are notably absent from the law's coverage.

Video game consoles, despite being popular devices among U.S. consumers, have often been left out of right-to-repair legislation. Repairing common issues such as hard drive and optical drive malfunctions can be challenging due to parts pairing. According to iFixit, 93% of repair shops surveyed encountered difficulties fixing consoles with broken optical drives, as the devices' optical devices and motherboards are paired in an undisclosed manufacturing process.

While iFixit has supported the inclusion of game consoles in right-to-repair laws, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a prominent lobbying group, has fiercely opposed it. The ESA argues that such laws could expose manufacturers' sensitive tools, parts, and know-how to unauthorized repair facilities, potentially leading to piracy concerns and the circumvention of the console's technical protections.

As Oregon celebrates the passing of the right-to-repair law, which aims to provide increased repair options for electronic devices, including parts pairing restrictions, the exclusion of video game consoles highlights the ongoing debate and lobbying efforts surrounding their inclusion. Consumers and repair advocates continue to call for comprehensive legislation that encompasses all electronic devices, including video game consoles, ensuring a fair and accessible repair market.

It remains to be seen whether Oregon's pioneering law will pave the way for more comprehensive right-to-repair legislation across the United States, promoting consumer empowerment and sustainability in the face of increasing electronic device obsolescence.