The Right to Repair in Minnesota
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In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed the Digital Fair Repair Act.
The language of the Act is available here in 2023 Minnesota Laws Chapter 57, Section 11.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Digital Fair Repair Act do?
In general, the Digital Fair Repair Act requires manufactures of certain electronic products to make documentation, parts, and tools for diagnosis, maintenance, or repair available to independent repair providers and toproduct owners on fair and reasonable terms.
Minnesota Statutes Section 325E.72, subd. 3(a).
For example, if Omar has a smart phone that needs a repair, Omar can choose to get his phone repaired by a repair provider authorized by the manufacturer of the phone, an independent repair provider, or himself. The manufacturer is required to make documentation, parts, and tools available to independent repair providers and Omar—not only the authorized repair provider.
When does the Digital Fair Repair Act go into effect?
The Digital Fair Repair Act will become effective in Minnesota on July 1, 2024.
Where is the Digital Fair Repair Act in Minnesota’s laws?
The Digital Fair Repair Act is codified at Minnesota Statutes Section 325E.72.
Does the Digital Fair Repair Act apply to all products?
The Digital Fair Repair Act applies to equipment that was sold on or after July 1, 2021. Minnesota Statutes Section 325D.44, subd. 8.
The Digital Fair Repair Act does not apply to certain products, including motor vehicles, medical devices, off-road equipment such as farm machinery and tractors, and video game consoles, which are excluded in the Act. Minnesota Statutes Section 325D.44, subd. 6.
Does the Minnesota Attorney General enforce the Digital Fair Repair Act?
Yes. The Attorney General has  authority to investigate and enforce violations of the Digital Fair Repair Act:
A violation of this section is an unlawful practice under section 325D.44. All remedies, penalties, and authority granted to the attorney general under section 8.31 are available to the attorney general to enforce this section.
Minnesota Statutes Section 325E.72, subd. 4 (Enforcement by Attorney General).
What should I do if I think the Digital Fair Repair Act is being violated?
The Digital Fair Repair Act may be violated if a manufacturer refuses to provide documentation, parts, and tools to an owner or independent repair provider. Alternatively, the Digital Fair Repair Act may be violated if a manufacturer provides documentation, parts, and tools but does so on terms that are not fair and reasonable, such as by extreme delay or exorbitant fees. Contact the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General to report suspected violations. Complaint forms are available here.
Can I report a violation to the United States government?
The Federal Trade Commission accepts reports of fraud, scams and bad business practices. You may file a report form on the FTC’s website here: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC does not resolve individual reports, but uses reports to investigate and bring cases.
