Defending consumers’ right to repair

Many countries are moving towards affordable and accessible repairs of electronic devices and machinery.

In 1924, “Phoebus cartel”, a group of light bulb manufacturers, was formed to lower the lifetime of electric light bulbs from 2,500 hours to 1,000 hours for fears that consumers wouldn’t buy new ones if the old ones continued to work. This is said to be the first case of planned obsolescence, where manufacturers deliberately design products with limited lifetime or in-built flaws. While there has been consistent resistance from the consumers, the companies are the ones who have had the last word.