Turning the EU’s Right-to-Repair into Licensing Advantage: A Playbook for Corporate Innovators

The European Union’s Right-to-Repair (R2R) Directive mandates that manufacturers provide consumers with a standardized European Repair Information Form before finalizing a repair contract, with the offer remaining valid for at least 30 days. This requirement not only ensures compliance but also alters how firms design products, manage intellectual property, and capture service revenue. This article presents three strategic responses—Protect, Partner, and Publish—that help companies balance control, collaboration, and transparency within the emerging repair economy. Illustrated with industry vignettes and implementation checklists, the framework demonstrates how proactive firms can turn repair obligations into recurring income, ecosystem partnerships, and measurable sustainability impacts.