Minnesota / smartphone/Fairphone
Fairphone smartphone owners in Minnesota.
5 statutory rights, plus Fairphone's own self-service repair channels and known controversies.
Figure 01 — Fairphone repair channels
Self-service availableFairphone repair channels
Self-service portal
shop.fairphone.comFairphone is widely regarded as the gold standard for repairability. All spare parts are sold direct-to-consumer at transparent prices, and modules can be swapped by users with a standard Phillips screwdriver - no proprietary tools or pairing required. Fairphone 5 (2023) ships with 8 years of OS/security updates and 8+ years of spare parts availability. Step-by-step repair guides are co-published with iFixit.
Authorized providers
support.fairphone.comSample spare parts
- Fairphone 5 display modulesee source
- Fairphone 5 batterysee source
- Fairphone 5 USB-C port modulesee source
- Fairphone 5 rear camera modulesee source
- Fairphone 5 back coversee source
Known repair issues
- Limited geographic availability. Fairphone devices are sold primarily in Europe, which limits the impact of its repairability advantages on consumers in North America, Asia, and other regions.
Figure 02 — Statutory rights in Minnesota
Statutory rights in Minnesota
- 01
Right to parts, tools and documentation
Original equipment manufacturers of digital electronic products sold in Minnesota must make documentation, parts, and tools needed to diagnose, maintain, or repair the product available to owners and independent repair providers on fair and reasonable terms.
Minnesota Digital Fair Repair Act, Minn. Stat. §325E.72 - 02
Fair and reasonable terms standard
Manufacturers must provide parts, tools, and documentation at the lowest actual cost charged to authorized repair providers, without requiring a substantial obligation that the manufacturer does not impose on its own technicians.
Minnesota Digital Fair Repair Act, Minn. Stat. §325E.72 subd. 1(g) - 03
No requirement to disclose trade secrets
The law does not require manufacturers to divulge trade secrets, but they must still provide the documentation, parts, and tools that are needed for typical diagnosis and repair.
Minnesota Digital Fair Repair Act, Minn. Stat. §325E.72 subd. 4 - 04
Enforcement by the Minnesota Attorney General
Violations are treated as deceptive trade practices under Minnesota law. The Attorney General has exclusive enforcement authority and can seek injunctive relief and civil penalties; there is no private right of action.
Minnesota Digital Fair Repair Act, Minn. Stat. §325E.72 subd. 5 - 05
Broad coverage of consumer digital electronics
Minnesota's law is considered one of the broadest U.S. right-to-repair laws because it covers most digital electronic equipment sold to consumers, including business-to-business products, with relatively few exclusions.
Minnesota Digital Fair Repair Act, Minn. Stat. §325E.72 subd. 1