Trade Groups Appeal Dismissal Of Device ‘Right To Repair’ Case

The device industry says that a Library of Congress decision that would allow third parties to access device software for repair or maintenance could spell disaster for innovation and hurt patients in the process.

Exterior of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC
• Source: Shutterstock

Trade groups have filed an appeal in a court case involving a US Library of Congress ruling that allows repair firms to access proprietary device software, which manufacturers say could erode copyright protections, stifle innovation, and ultimately harm patients.

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) made it an act of copyright infringement to “circumvent a technological measure” to access proprietary information. Among other anti-piracy measures, this also limits access...

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