This week , Apple announced its documentation for a California handbill toallow consumer to repair or modify their devicesindependently . The bill , called SB 244 or the Right to Repair Act , was pass by the Department of State senate in May with a 38 - 0 vote , requiring manufacturer to cater owners and repair shops with the necessary tools and manuals to fix devices .
TheRight to Repair Actsays it will “ provide a fair market for the repair of electronic and convenience merchandise and to veto designed barrier and limitations to third - party fixing , ” with the exception of picture biz consoles or alarm systems .
In a letter to Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman , the note ’s supporter , Apple wrote : “ We corroborate SB 244 because it include requirements that protect individual users ’ safety and security system , as well as product manufacturers ’ intellectual belongings , ” The letter , published by404 Media , add : “ We will keep to support the Federal Reserve note , so long as it continues to bring home the bacon protections for customer and innovators . ”
Photo: Jack Skeens (Shutterstock)
Apple did not immediately respond to Gizmodo ’s request for input .
Apple ’s letter for the “ Right to Repair ” circular could give it the support needed for California ’s State Assembly to push it through . “ If California vote yes and continues to raise the bar on electronics hangout from other province , it ’s becoming obvious the fight is over , and that we ’ve won , ” Nathan Proctor , Senior Director of consumer rights group U.S. PIRG Campaign for the right field to Repair , told 404 Media .
The conclusion goes againstApple ’s previous stance on similar legislationthat would require it to comply with the consumer ’s rightfield to repair their own twist and have long lobbied against it . In 2019 , two Apple lobbyists met with the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee to fight a rightfield - to - repair vizor , reason that consumers could hurt themselves if they try out to supersede a lithium - ion shelling themselves , Vicereported at the clip .
Apple lobbyists also fought against the “ Fair Repair Act ” proposed in New York State in 2017 , while at the same time pit another fair hangout greenback in Nebraska , tell it would deform the state into a “ Mecca for bad actors , ” outlaw , and hackers , according to a separateVicereport .
Governor Kathy Hochul , ( D - New York ) ultimatelypushed through the Digital Fair Repair Actin January of this yr . The statute law went into effect on July 1 .
Steve Wozniak , who co - founded Apple with Steve Jobs in the 1970s , has been vocal about his financial support for right - to - repair policies , telling theBBC : “ We would n’t have had an Apple had I not grown up in a very open applied science macrocosm . ” He added : “ It ’s time to recognise the right wing to quicken more fully . ” fellowship have typically withstand give consumers the power to recompense their own devices “ because it gives the companies index , control , over everything , ” Wozniak told the outlet .
The company started moving toward offering independent repairs to consumers bylaunching a ego - service repair program in 2022 . The computer program offer parts and creature for customer to rent that would earmark them to fix their iPhones or Macs , rather than replace them .
“ Apple ’s support for California ’s Right to Repair Act demonstrates the power of the drift that has been make for twelvemonth and the ability for industries to partner with us to make good policy to benefit the multitude of California , ” Talamantes Eggman , said in a assertion toTechCrunch . She added : “ I ’m thankful for their conflict on this proceeds and for leading among their peers when it number to supporting access to haunt . ”
AppleGizmodoiPhone 7Kathy HochulMaintenanceSteve JobsSteve Wozniak
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