Right to repair
Etymology
A plain English phrase that became a rallying term in the 2010s as electronics grew harder to open and repair. "Repair" comes from Latin "reparare" (to restore).
noun phrase · /RYTE tuh rih-PAIR/
The principle that consumers should be able to fix the products they own, including access to parts, tools, and manuals.
What it names
A growing movement and legal push against devices designed to be replaced rather than mended.
Example
Right-to-repair laws would force makers to sell the parts and share the schematics needed to fix a phone.
Related idea
Planned obsolescence is the practice it fights — designing goods to fail or age out; the right to repair is the countervailing claim of the owner.