Microsoft Announcement Marks Huge Win For FTC and ‘Right to Repair’ Movement

October 7, 2021 Press Release

Washington, D.C. — The American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement in response to news that Microsoft has committed to making it easier for consumers to independently repair Microsoft devices.

“The Federal Trade Commission under Lina Khan is already showing results,” said Sarah Miller, Executive Director of the American Economic Liberties Project. “Today, Microsoft announced that it would start making its products easier to fix. For too long, dominant firms have refused to let businesses and consumers repair equipment they’ve bought. An impressive and widespread social movement known as “right to repair” has been pushing back, in state legislatures, through shareholder initiatives, and in the regulatory process. The Federal Trade Commission issued an important report on right to repair, and began dedicated resources to investigating the problem. This move by Microsoft is a direct result of these actions. We encourage the FTC and other policymakers to make sure Microsoft follows through, and to engage in more aggressive policy to stop monopolistic firms from prohibiting people from enjoying the property they have rightfully purchased.”

Learn more about Economic Liberties here.

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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.