Italy Implements EU Right‑to‑Repair Directive, Raising Cost and IP Concerns

Italy has transposed the European Union’s Right‑to‑Repair directive, introducing consumer protections that ban contractual clauses and software locks that prevent device repairs. The law creates a National Repair Observatory and earmarks half of any fines for circular‑economy initiatives.

Critics, including Refurbed co‑founder Kilian Kaminski, say the legislation stops short of defining a reasonable price for spare parts, leaving manufacturers free to set costs that could make repair uneconomical. Proposals from the refurbished‑electronics sector call for a price cap of 20 % of the product’s value, tighter limits on intellectual‑property exemptions, and fiscal incentives or reuse bonuses for citizens. Concerns remain that IP exemptions may allow producers to restrict the use of compatible, used, or 3‑D‑printed components, undermining the directive’s intended benefits.