Comments by "Helmuth Schultes" (@helmuthschultes9243) on "A word about Europe's push for right to repair and my concerns regarding its viability." video.

  1. Having worked in Automotive electronics for over 40yrs, it is not unusual that replacement parts MUST be available for at least 10yrs from end of manufacture, AND it is quiete acceptable to have second sources to supply equivalents, reconditioned or secondhand workable parts. On topic of semiconductor chips it is quiete possible to license one of several semiconductor companies specialising in obsolete chips, to continue making the special parts. There are still chips and discrete semiconductors that are obsolete since 1960s still made and stocked now. If a manufacturer wishes to stop support, then open access to the full documentation , accessible to repair shops. As far as code details no that is not free to access, so coded uControllers are a no public access, however again a licensed second source could by choice, on sufficient demand, choose to make the needed parts. Often a substitute can be adapted, or recovered secondhand chips can be supplied. Another important feature needed for this 'right to repair' is that the design of products shpuld be required to provide for potential repair and adequate recycling recovery of usable parts for future repairs. Products already have considerable effort to optimise for manufacture and little extra can make significant 'lifetime' repairabilty.
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  2. I left out earlier comment, I have done specific redesign/optimising to make a replacement item, because the prior part can NOT BE MADE for one of many reasons, but to be capable to provide repair of old cars . Covering from simple devices to full injection modules, a wide range of spares. Substitute replacements are still good business. A regulator for 1960's alternators continued manufacture of its current replacement in over 300,000 annual volumes to present times, because there are still so many old engines in use with alternators needing repairs. I even designed an electronic replacement for original solenoid based regulators, that are commercially unviable due to the huge manufacturing costs of such winding based concepts, though out of asian backyarders the electromechanicals still seem to appear. The electronic one is a huge improvement and cost effective too. My design was ripped off quickly, but also design protected and legally handled to stop the design theft. It continues to be made and sold at low cost equal to other replacement regulators for modern cars, no ripoff....
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