'Right to Repair' bills in five states could force Apple to provide iPhone parts, support ...
Five states have introduced bills that would give citizens the "Right to Repair" electronics, compelling Apple and other manufacturers to provide service manuals and easier access to spare parts to consumers and third-party repair shops.
The proposed new legislation aims to take on the "authorized repair" model employed by many companies, reports Motherboard, where only technicians and repair shops certified by the manufacturer are permitted to work on the broken device if the customer wishes to retain a warranty. Typically, these repair services are provided training by the manufacturer, as well as access to service manuals that are not provided to the public, and the ability to order replacement components.
In the case of Apple, there are "Authorized Service Providers" that use Apple-certified technicians to make repairs to Mac systems. These authorized shops are able to order parts directly from Apple, have access to troubleshooting and repair manuals, are able to receive extra technical support, and can also be reimbursed for limited warranty or extended service agreement repairs.
Unlike the Mac, customers with iPhones cannot get their devices repaired via third-party services officially. While there are many repair shops that tout fixes for iOS devices, Apple does not offer an authorization program for iPhones and iPads, forcing the workshops to acquire parts through the grey market and potentially using recycled or counterfeit components.
The bills in Nebraska, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, and Kansas all aim to make it easier for consumers to fix the devices themselves, by publishing service manuals not typically viewable by the public, and making it easier to acquire spare parts. The change will also help the third-party repair market, as official instructions for repairs and genuine manufacturer-supplied components could lead to a lower repair failure rate, and higher customer satisfaction.
Enabling customers to make repairs will also have an environmental impact, suggest legislators, with fewer devices thrown away once broken.
"Limited authorized channels result in inflated, high repair prices and high overturn of electronic items," claim legislators behind the New York bill. "Another concern is the large amount of electronic waste created by the inability to affordably repair broken electronics."
The bills are modeled upon the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, passed in Massachusetts in 2012, which provided car owners with similar manufacturer-supplied assistance for repairs. After passing, auto manufacturers treated it as if it was national legislation, due to the potential legal issues of managing 50 different versions of the bill varying by state.
It is thought that if at least one of the five bills pass into law, a similar effect could take place, opening up repairs for the rest of the country.
The proposed new legislation aims to take on the "authorized repair" model employed by many companies, reports Motherboard, where only technicians and repair shops certified by the manufacturer are permitted to work on the broken device if the customer wishes to retain a warranty. Typically, these repair services are provided training by the manufacturer, as well as access to service manuals that are not provided to the public, and the ability to order replacement components.
In the case of Apple, there are "Authorized Service Providers" that use Apple-certified technicians to make repairs to Mac systems. These authorized shops are able to order parts directly from Apple, have access to troubleshooting and repair manuals, are able to receive extra technical support, and can also be reimbursed for limited warranty or extended service agreement repairs.
Unlike the Mac, customers with iPhones cannot get their devices repaired via third-party services officially. While there are many repair shops that tout fixes for iOS devices, Apple does not offer an authorization program for iPhones and iPads, forcing the workshops to acquire parts through the grey market and potentially using recycled or counterfeit components.
The bills in Nebraska, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, and Kansas all aim to make it easier for consumers to fix the devices themselves, by publishing service manuals not typically viewable by the public, and making it easier to acquire spare parts. The change will also help the third-party repair market, as official instructions for repairs and genuine manufacturer-supplied components could lead to a lower repair failure rate, and higher customer satisfaction.
Enabling customers to make repairs will also have an environmental impact, suggest legislators, with fewer devices thrown away once broken.
"Limited authorized channels result in inflated, high repair prices and high overturn of electronic items," claim legislators behind the New York bill. "Another concern is the large amount of electronic waste created by the inability to affordably repair broken electronics."
The bills are modeled upon the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, passed in Massachusetts in 2012, which provided car owners with similar manufacturer-supplied assistance for repairs. After passing, auto manufacturers treated it as if it was national legislation, due to the potential legal issues of managing 50 different versions of the bill varying by state.
It is thought that if at least one of the five bills pass into law, a similar effect could take place, opening up repairs for the rest of the country.
Comments
I know of plenty of "repair shops" that I would never take an actual iOS device to. Regardless of whether they have access to OEM parts.
Doesnt household insurance cover this type of damage?
If this goes through then within six months, iPhones will be exploding left right and centre.
Deep inside the New York bill is this little gem: "ANY INDEPENDENT REPAIR PROVIDER THAT PURCHASES OR ACQUIRES EMBEDDED SOFTWARE OR SERVICE PARTS SHALL, PRIOR TO PERFORMING ANY SERVICES ON DIGITAL ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, NOTIFY THE OWNER OF SUCH EQUIPMENT IN
WRITING THAT: ... WARRANTORS CANNOT REQUIRE THAT ONLY BRANDED PARTS BE USED WITH THE PRODUCT IN ORDER TO RETAIN THE WARRANTY".
Now consider Samsung's recent battery disaster. That happened with a component that they actually tested and had control over. The battery being one of the most likely components an independent shop would want to be able to replace, imagine the disastrous implications: Bubba's Discount Fix-It replaces the battery in a phone with some cheap, non-oem component. That battery then erupts and takes down an airbus on its way from New York to Los Angeles. Seems extreme, but that's actually the sort of thing that's at stake.
Yes, those sorts of dubious repairs already happen (and you should be worried about that), but by giving the consumer the option to make that choice while explicitly being told they're not voiding their warranty, the probability goes up that such decisions will be made, and the probability that such choices will lead to extreme and tragic outcomes also goes up.
Something else that would be nice is the 'right to repairability. I took an iPhone 4s apart a few years back.... it was insane how they managed to cram everything in there! I realize that consumer demands for size, features, style, etc often force the manufacturers to design products the way they do, but it sure would be nice if they were a bit easier to fix.
Yes, those restrictions are in place for a reason: To increase Apple's profits. It's not about quality control, you can often get a better job done by the guy who doesn't have to follow Apple's corporate script.
And sure, there are repair shops that are terrible. There are Apple "Geniuses" who are terrible too. The right to repair is about giving you a choice.
And if you do know how to repair your own stuff, it gives you access to the Apple parts, not just what you find on eBay, and you don't have to pay someone to fix what you can fix yourself.
You, and 99.999% of people (including including mom and pop shop electronic dabblers) will never be qualified to fix these things correctly.
Once batteries become good enough to last 10 years under normal use (which will happen eventually), opening them EVER will be unthinkable unless they're abused.
With good quality control, breakage and no buttons, these things could easily last a decade if they're not abused.