this post was submitted on 14 Dec 2023
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Right to Repair

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Whether it be electronics, automobiles or medical equipment, the manufacturers should not be able to horde “oem” parts, render your stuff useless if you repair it with aftermarket parts, or hide schematics of their products.

I Fix It Repair Manifesto

Summary article from I Fix It

Summary video by Marques Brownlee

Great channel covering and advocating right to repair, Lewis Rossman

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The situation is a heavy machinery example of something that happens across most categories of electronics, from phones, laptops, health devices, and wearables to tractors and, apparently, trains. In this case, NEWAG, the manufacturer of the Impuls family of trains, put code in the train’s control systems that prevented them from running if a GPS tracker detected that it spent a certain number of days in an independent repair company’s maintenance center, and also prevented it from running if certain components had been replaced without a manufacturer-approved serial number.

The problem was so bad that an infrastructure trade publication in Poland called Rynek Kolejowy picked up on the mysterious issues over the summer, and said that the lack of working trains was beginning to impact service: “Four vehicles after level P3-2 repair cannot be started. At this moment, it is not known what caused the failure. The lack of units is a serious problem for the carrier and passengers, because shorter trains are sent on routes.”

Very good article, I'd recommend reading it. I hope the court rules against NEWAG and sets a precedent for right to repair.

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[–] MamboGator@lemmy.world 40 points 10 months ago (2 children)

When we're at the point where "criminals" are the ones acting ethically to undo the damage caused by those in power, I have to wonder how long until society collapses and is forced into another major restructure.

[–] boreengreen@lemm.ee 21 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

The word hacker doesn't mean criminal. Hacking is not a crime unless you do something illegal with the skillset you have. They are just coders and reverse engineers. A hack usually means a quick fix.

[–] Engineer@discuss.tchncs.de 18 points 10 months ago

In this case, if it is illegal, it definitely shouldn't be.

[–] MamboGator@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The word hacker doesn't mean criminal.

Never claimed otherwise. Unauthorized access of a corporate system, especially a control system for public transit, probably qualifies as illegal even if the intention was good.

[–] fallingcats@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Then why'd you call them criminals

[–] MamboGator@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

Unauthorized access of a corporate system, especially a control system for public transit, probably qualifies as illegal even if the intention was good.

It's okay. Reading comprehension is a hard skill to master.

[–] RubberElectrons@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago

Moron, note the air quotes. They're using the term in a way to make fun of how the media consistently uses the word.

[–] Isoprenoid@programming.dev 9 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I have to wonder how long until society collapses

We'll just hack it back into working order.

[–] MamboGator@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

I have no doubt that those in charge now will sink their claws in so that they still come out ahead in whatever system comes next. When you abolish the monarchy, the rich become politicians.