The company is the only one supporting a bill in the United States, in a different position than it had before. Find out more!
Apple has expressed support for a California bill that would make it a right-to-repair law. Its support was shown by sending a letter to a state senator. The bill requires that cellphone manufacturers provide parts, tools and manuals.
The tech giant’s stance came as a surprise given the company’s history of opposing this type of initiative. It’s possible that the company’s change of stance is to “prepare the ground” for future regulations on the right to repair.
Continue reading and find out more details about this topic, which has been causing a stir!
Project
In a letter sent to Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman of California (USA), Apple supported bill SB 244. The bill, which will be debated in parliament, requires manufacturers to provide parts, tools and manuals to both independent repair shops and device owners.
In an excerpt from the letter, the company states that it supports California's Right to Repair law, so that citizens have greater access to repairs, while also ensuring their security and privacy are protected.
The company's stance, the only one to support the project so far, was surprising given its history of opposing such initiatives. In fact, the company has already stated that Nebraska would become a mecca for hackers when a similar project was presented in the state.
However, the company has shown signs of changing its positioning over the years. The company announced in 2021 that it would start selling parts and tools to consumers and would start offering repair manuals to help them fix their devices on their own.
According to Engadget, Apple would be more flexible about the right to repair to start preparing for future regulations.
Support
It is not yet possible to confirm whether Apple's support will give the project the support it needs to pass. The senator introduced the bill in 2018, but the text only received significant support now in 2023.
The Senate approved the bill unanimously and it will undergo a final hearing next week. It will then go to the plenary and will have to be approved one last time by lawmakers before it can go to the government for approval.
The iPhones have improved repairability ratings, with the iPhone 14 scoring 7/10. However, iPads and Macs have very low scores. Additionally, AirPods are considered nearly impossible to repair.
The cost of repairing a product from the brand in a store in Brazil can exceed R$1,000. In some countries, the company has started to change the situation with a home repair program, including the sale of parts and the rental of equipment. This option, however, is not available in Brazil.
The California bill includes electronics and appliances on the list of products. The exceptions in the text are video game consoles, to prevent piracy, and alarm systems, for security reasons.
Another 14 states have such projects. In New York, there is already a regulation on the repair law.
Brazil
Article 32 of the Consumer Protection Code requires manufacturers and importers to offer spare parts and components while the product is being manufactured. Later, a decree to regulate the code defined that manufacturers must offer spare parts and components for a reasonable period, which cannot be less than the useful life of the product.
