IP Law Daily, TECHNOLOGY/INTERNET NEWS: Minnesota Governor signs right-to-repair law covering most electronic products, (May 25, 2023)
By Cheryl Beise, J.D.
Motor vehicles, medical devices, farm and construction equipment, and power tools are exempt from the law.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on May 24 signed into law the nation’s broadest right-to-repair legislation covering most electronic products. The Digital Fair Repair Act, enacted as part of an omnibus appropriations bill, requires original equipment manufacturers to make available to consumers and repair shops tools and manuals necessary for repair of electronic devices or independent repair provider, documentation, parts, and tools for diagnostic, maintenance, or repair purpose. The law will take effect on July 1, 2024.
The Digital Fair Repair Act requires original equipment manufacturers to make available to the digital electronic equipment’s owner or an independent repair provider, documentation, parts, and tools for diagnostic, maintenance, or repair purpose. The law further requires original equipment manufacturers to make available any special documentation, tools, and parts needed to reset an electronic security lock or other security-related function when the lock or function is disabled in the course of performing diagnostic, maintenance, or repair services on the equipment.
The law specifically exempts motor vehicle and equipment manufacturers and dealers; manufacturers and distributors of a medical devices and digital electronic product or software manufactured for use in a medical setting; manufacturers, distributors, importers, and dealers of off-road or nonroad equipment (including farm and construction equipment), power tools, generators, and batteries.
Violations of the law are deemed an unlawful practice under section 325D.44 of Minnesota’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act and are enforceable by the Minnesota Attorney General under Chapter 8 in the enforcement of such violations.
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