Tech giants like Apple and Samsung have long been criticized for making devices that are difficult to fix due to software locks, lack of information, tools and parts.
Their batteries are, for example, notoriously difficult to repair even though they can wear out quickly.
Companies normally block the independent repair to of broken devices on the grounds that these are not authorized or due to software ownership.
They have a de facto monopoly on repairs and charge a much higher price than small outlets. This has affected customers and many independent repair shops.
For consumers, therefore, the reality is that device repair can be expensive compared with a new replacement device.
Around the globe, the right-to-repair movement tries to address these issues by proposing legislation obligating manufacturers to allow access to diagnostic software, manuals, tools and parts at fair market prices.
In addition, manufacturers are obligated to design devices in a manner that allows easy repair with the goal of favoring repair over replacement.
In October, Fairphone 4, the latest iteration of the "modular" smartphone from the Dutch Cooperative was launched but with a limited Europe-only release. It comes with a five-year warranty and users can repair the phone themselves using a standard screwdriver and slot-in modules.
Does this signal a new trend and why should we care about the right to repair in the first place?
The first reason is consumer and legal pressures.
According to the 2014 Eurobarometer survey, 77 percent of Europeans prefer fixing devices over buying new ones.
The right to repair legislation is critical not merely to protect consumers and independent repair shops, but also to create a competitive market for repair, which means better service and lower prices for consumers.
Such laws also set consumers free from the business strategy of planned obsolescence that is built into a device from its conception by the manufacturer.
In March, the EU's first ever right to repair regulations for electrical and electronic appliances came into effect.
As a result of the new laws, manufacturers will now be legally obligated to ensure that electric and electronic goods, such as televisions and fridges, can be repaired for up to 10 years.
Although the new regulations in Europe still have limitations in terms of scope of coverage, they constitute a good step toward making repairs more accessible, and hopefully allowing faster and cheaper repairs for end users.
The second reason for caring about the right to repair is that it reduces the toll of e-waste and pollution on the environment.
More electronic gadgets and electrical appliances, from smartphones to washing machines, when discarded, add to the growing mountain of e-waste.
Growth in consumption and production of electronic products is a large reason why our e-waste is increasing. The right-to-repair laws can help curbing the fastest growing e-waste.
In 2021, we will discard an estimated 57.4 million tonnes of electronic waste, according to the World Economic Forum.
That will outweigh the Great Wall of China, the world's heaviest human construction.
The waste electrical and electronic equipment forum is calling for products to be repaired or recycled instead of discarded. By recycling e-waste, the planet world will avoid two tonnes of carbon dioxide for every tonne of e-waste.
Apple surprised the community and announced on November 17 that it will allow and facilitate individuals wanting to mend their devices and that repairs by individuals will not void the warranty.
They must have realized the right to repair would win customers and give products a chance to be used longer.
Dr Jolly Wong is a policy fellow at the Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge
Visitors to Cornwall, England, in June take in Mount Recyclemore, artist Joe Rush's attempt to get G7 leaders to tackle e-waste with his Mount Rushmore update.
