Oregon Bans Parts Pairing for Decade
Oregon has struck a major blow against "parts pairing" where manufacturers lock replacement parts to specific devices, making independent repair difficult. The new law guarantees a decade of repair support for consumers and sets a precedent for other states to follow. This victory extends product lifespans and supports a more sustainable, circular economy for electronics, appliances, and vehicles.
The new Oregon law, Senate Bill 1596, was signed by Governor Tina Kotek and is the first in the nation to ban the practice of "parts pairing." This practice involves manufacturers using software to prevent the installation of replacement parts, or to reduce the functionality of a device if a non-approved part is used. The ban on parts pairing will apply to devices manufactured after January 1, 2025. This legislation is the culmination of a four-year effort by advocates, including student groups, who lobbied legislators for greater consumer rights. The bill, championed by lawmakers like Senator Janeen Sollman, passed with significant bipartisan support in both the Oregon House and Senate. It builds upon similar "Right to Repair" laws passed in California, Minnesota, and New York but is considered the strongest due to its specific targeting of parts pairing. The law requires manufacturers of consumer electronics and appliances to provide individuals and independent repair shops with access to the same parts, tools, and repair manuals that are available to their authorized service centers. This applies to most electronics made after 2015 and cell phones made after July 2021. However, it excludes video game consoles, heating and air conditioning units, and vehicles. The practice of restricting repairs is not new, with historical roots dating back to the 1920s in the automotive industry. In the modern electronics era, companies like Apple have used parts pairing, citing security and quality control, which requires proprietary software to authenticate replacement parts like screens or batteries. This often limits repair options and can lead to warning messages or reduced functionality if a "non-genuine" part is used. The passage of Oregon's law saw mixed reactions from the tech industry. While Google publicly endorsed the bill as a model for other states, Apple lobbied against it, defending its use of parts pairing. This legislative victory for the "Right to Repair" movement is expected to influence similar bills being considered in roughly 30 other states.
