Public Knowledge Applauds Bill Protecting the Public’s Right to Repair During Health Crisis
Public Knowledge Applauds Bill Protecting the Public’s Right to Repair During Health Crisis
Public Knowledge Applauds Bill Protecting the Public’s Right to Repair During Health Crisis

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    Today, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) introduced “The Critical Medical Infrastructure Right-to-Repair Act of 2020” to allow trained experts to maintain and repair essential medical equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, and temporarily suspend restrictions that are blocking needed repairs. Public Knowledge commends Sen. Wyden and Rep. Clarke for championing the needs of patients and medical professionals during this public health crisis.

    The following can be attributed to John Bergmayer, Legal Director at Public Knowledge:

    “People who own medical devices have the right to repair them, just as people have repaired things they own for as long as there have been things to repair. Especially during the pandemic, it’s important that medical services aren’t interrupted by expensive, slow, and unnecessary service requirements. Unfortunately, numerous legal obstacles can stand in the way of this, including misapplications of intellectual property law that do not protect creativity or innovation, but just lock in users to restrictive business models. This bill directly addresses these obstacles, and it should become law.”

    Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.