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Apple’s turnaround in favor of consumers: Apple supports the Repair Act

9 months ago babelfish

Apple's turnaround in favor of consumers: Apple supports the Repair Act

After obstructing similar bills, Apple changes the register and decides to support the Californian Repair Act. However, the company dictates its conditions

Apple's change of strategy on the Californian Repair Act (but the world is now full of similar laws, there is a similar corpus in Europe as well). In fact, Cupertino turned out to be in favor of the regulatory project, after having opposed similar rules.

Californian Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman , promoter of the standard and recipient of an email in which Apple claims to support the proposed law SB 244, which provides for the obligation for manufacturers to supply customers and independent repair shops the appropriate tools, manuals and parts to repair damaged electronic devices and appliances.

THE UNITED STATES REPAIR ACTS

After passing the Senate in May, California's SB 244 bill is now headed to the California State Assembly. If passed, it would add to the growing number of right-to-repair laws passed in other US states, including Minnesota and Colorado.

New York passed a right-to-repair bill last year, but before it was signed into law, The Verge notes today, it was heavily amended to allow OEM manufacturers some convenient exceptions and loopholes.

WHAT ABOUT EUROPE?

Last March, the European Commission adopted a new proposal for common rules promoting the repair of goods , in the hope that replacement will cease to take priority over repair in the event of defects arising in products.

The proposal introduces a new 'right to reparation' for consumers, both within and beyond the statutory guarantee. Under the statutory warranty sellers will be required to offer repair, except when it is more expensive than replacement.

Beyond the legal guarantee, consumers will have a new set of rights and tools that will make repairing an easy and accessible option:

  • the right of consumers to ask manufacturers to repair products that are technically repairable under EU law, such as washing machines or televisions. This right will ensure that consumers can always turn to someone when choosing to repair products and will encourage manufacturers to develop more sustainable business models;
  • the obligation of manufacturers to inform consumers about the products for which they are required to provide repairs;
  • an online repair platform that will connect consumers with repairers and refurbishers in their area. This platform will make it possible to search by location and quality standards, helping consumers to find interesting offers and increasing the visibility of repairers;
  • a European repair information form, which consumers will be able to request from any repairer and which will ensure transparency of repair conditions and pricing and make it easier for consumers to compare repair offers;
  • A European quality standard for repair services will be developed to help consumers identify repairers who are committed to offering superior quality. This 'easy repair' standard will be open to all repairers across the EU who want to commit to minimum quality standards, based for example on the durability or availability of products.

WHAT APPLE ASKS IN RETURN

But let's go overseas. “California's final right to repair law should balance the integrity, usability and physical safety of devices with consumers' desire to be able to repair, rather than replace, a device when it needs repair,” the statement said. hope that Apple brings out in the letter sent to Senator Eggman. "Legislation that properly balances these concerns ensures that manufacturers are able to comply with the law while protecting consumers and their devices."

And it's not the only stake inserted by the bitten Apple. The company adds that it will continue to support the bill "as long as it continues to provide protections for customers and innovators," including requiring "repair providers to disclose the use of non-original or used parts." ”. He also wants "guarantees that the bill does not threaten consumer and data security" by requiring manufacturers to disable device security features for repair shops.

APPLE'S TWIST ON THE REPAIR ACT

It is a real U-turn in the line held so far by the electronics giant which has never looked kindly on the idea of ​​providing the tools suitable for opening its devices, much less spare parts.

But it is a not too sudden reversal, signs in this sense had already been glimpsed with the self-repair program for various devices, including the iPhone 14 and the MacBooks equipped with M2. The iPhone 14 has been made easier to repair, and the iPhone 15 Pro is said to be easier to repair as well.

"Apple supports California's Right to Repair law so that all Californians have even greater access to repairs while protecting their safety, security and privacy," Apple said in a statement to The Verges . “We build our products to last, and if they ever need to be repaired, Apple customers have a growing range of safe, high-quality repair options available to them.”

This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/la-giravolta-di-apple-a-favore-dei-consumatori-la-mela-sostiene-il-repair-act/ on Fri, 25 Aug 2023 14:44:37 +0000.