Petitioners seek a review of software restrictions
Published on April 29, 2026, the petition was titled "Support UK innovation & reform copyright law to curb tech giants". It sought a review of the Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003, arguing that their anti-circumvention rules and digital locks had strengthened powerful technology monopolies while hindering UK innovation, repair rights and a circular economy for electronic devices.
The petitioners wanted Parliament to examine software licensing models and how they affect consumers and the useful life of electrical products. They argued that reform could create opportunities for UK technology development and, for example, let farmers repair tractors without spending thousands on a software unlock code. They also linked longer product lifespans to reduced mining of critical raw materials.
The petition remained open until its October 29 closing date. Under the parliamentary petitions system, 10,000 signatures trigger a government response, while 100,000 make a petition eligible for consideration for a parliamentary debate.
What the 2003 regulations cover
The Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2498) took effect on October 31, 2003. They implemented the EU Information Society Directive (2001/29/EC) in UK law by amending the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
The amendments added criminal offenses in section 296ZB covering the manufacture, import, sale or distribution of devices primarily designed to bypass technological protection measures. Providing or promoting services for such circumvention also falls within those offenses.
The regulations also introduced a remedy under section 296ZE: a person whose permitted act is blocked by a technical measure can complain to the Secretary of State.
Tractor repair and software access
The petition's tractor example concerns an issue also disputed in the United States. In January 2023, John Deere and the American Farm Bureau Federation signed a memorandum of understanding giving US farmers access to the documentation, data and diagnostic tools available to Deere's authorized repair shops.
In return, the federation agreed not to pursue state or federal right-to-repair legislation. The agreement stopped short of full software access and did not permit changes to embedded code.
On January 15, 2025, the US Federal Trade Commission sued Deere, alleging that its repair restrictions raised farmers' repair costs and impaired their access to timely repairs. Deere offers customers a separate version of its repair software for more than $3,000 a year, but the FTC says it cannot enable every repair.
Existing repair rules in the UK and EU
The UK's repair rules include requirements for manufacturers to provide professional repairers with spare parts and technical information for certain products. The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/745), often called the Right to Repair Regulations, took effect on July 1, 2021, with a grace period of up to two years for manufacturers.
Covered products include washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and electronic displays. Laptops and smartphones are outside the regulations' scope.
The EU adopted Directive (EU) 2024/1799 on common rules promoting the repair of goods on June 13, 2024. Member states were required to transpose it into national law and apply it from July 31, 2026. For goods covered by the directive's list, manufacturers may not obstruct repairs through contractual terms or hardware and software techniques unless legitimate, objective factors justify those restrictions.
