Microsoft has just announced that it is committing to the Right to Repair so that its products can be repaired more easily, anywhere and even by users at home. As reported by the Grist portal, Microsoft will study the environmental impact of the right to repair and act on its findings by the end of next year.
This decision is a reaction to a shareholder resolution filed in June 2021. Shareholders required Microsoft to consider the environmental impact of making its products easier to repair. It was also driven by user demand for the growing Right to Repair movement.
Shareholders and users pressure Microsoft for the Right to Repair
Shareholders teamed up with As Yo Sow, known for defending shareholder interests, to convey to Microsoft that they believe it is important to adopt the Right to Repair so that their devices are easy to repair and have fewer environmental penalties. The shareholders and As You Sow teamed up to bring out the shareholder resolution against Microsoft as a form of pressure and it worked.
As You Sow agreed on Monday to withdraw the shareholder resolution and Microsoft promised to complete a third-party study evaluating the environmental impacts of repairs to its devices. This would include the Surface series computers, and the Xbox series X and Xbox series S consoles. They will seek to increase access to repair, expand the availability of certain parts and repair documentation beyond the network of service providers. Microsoft authorized, will also initiate new mechanisms to enable and facilitate local repair options for consumers.
With this, one of the large technology companies adopts the Right to repair, although Microsoft has done it for the shareholders, and not lose sales from consumers who are increasingly worried about not having to send their device to official workshops. The United States is on the way to imposing the Right to Redress at the federal level. Although companies like Apple will apply pressure and even have a store policy to discourage the repairs of their products.
Source: Vice
