As a recent adopter of a Framework laptop, this news gives me hope, given the far reaching nature of the California effect. As I stated in another post, though, I don’t think Apple should be...
As a recent adopter of a Framework laptop, this news gives me hope, given the far reaching nature of the California effect.
As I stated in another post, though, I don’t think Apple should be especially deserved of praise given their antagonistic nature against right-to-repair. My guess is that a California lawmaker made it clear that they would have to bend and so they saw it advantageous to get ahead of the messaging.
Perhaps I’m cynical, but it is convenient that this news comes on the coattails of Apple’s WWDC.
From the summary of the bill, it appears to apply to common consumer electronics and appliances. I'm wondering what this bit means: It would be nice to read a legal analysis by someone who's done...
From the summary of the bill, it appears to apply to common consumer electronics and appliances.
I'm wondering what this bit means:
Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a manufacturer to sell service parts if the service parts are no longer provided by the manufacturer or made available to an authorized repair provider.
It would be nice to read a legal analysis by someone who's done their homework.
Not a lawyer - it seems to me this is a way to say that manufacturers aren’t obligated to make repair parts for 7 years if they weren’t going to make the parts at all. So a product that has a...
Not a lawyer - it seems to me this is a way to say that manufacturers aren’t obligated to make repair parts for 7 years if they weren’t going to make the parts at all. So a product that has a limited release and no plan for 1st party repair won’t need to be followed by 7 years of repair part production. My guess is they only want to affect products that already have a repair part supply chain (like iPhones) but where the manufacturer keeps parts to themselves.
I'm honored, but I don't know the industry and haven't worked in any area related to manufacturing or supply chain or logistics. There are other attorneys here and people who work in all aspects...
I'm honored, but I don't know the industry and haven't worked in any area related to manufacturing or supply chain or logistics.
There are other attorneys here and people who work in all aspects of technology.
Kevin Purdy Repair shops must disclose if they're using "non-authorized" parts.
Kevin Purdy
Repair shops must disclose if they're using "non-authorized" parts.
"Since Right to Repair can pass here, expect it to be on its way to a backyard near you," said iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens in a statement. iFixit, a seller of repair parts and tools and advocate for right-to-repair laws, based in San Luis Obispo, California, was joined in its support for the California repair law by another California company with a history of opposing repair laws: Apple. The consumer tech giant's letter urging passage of the bill was surprising, to say the least, though Apple said that the bill's stipulations for "individual users' safety" and "product manufacturers' intellectual property" were satisfactory.
Pricing of parts and tools is left at "fair and reasonable terms." The bill requires repair vendors that are "not an authorized repair provider" to "provide a written notice of that fact" to customers and to "disclose if it uses replacement parts that are used" or third-party. Apple specifically advocated for consumer notice of third-party parts and unauthorized repair in its letter supporting the bill.
California's bill goes further than right-to-repair laws in other states. Rather than limiting its demand that companies provide parts, tools, repair manuals, and necessary software for devices that are still actively sold, California requires that vendors provide those items for products sold after July 1, 2021, starting in July 2024.
Products costing $50 to $99.99 must be accompanied by those items for three years, and items $100 and more necessitate seven years. The bill also provides for stronger enforcement mechanisms, allowing for municipalities to bring superior court cases rather than contact the state attorney general.
With three large states and Europe as a whole moving to enforce repairable design and after-purchase care, manufacturers may choose to offer compliant products everywhere, rather than divide their offerings.
Apple, notably, made a point of the increased repairability and durability of the titanium-framed iPhone 15 announced yesterday.
As a recent adopter of a Framework laptop, this news gives me hope, given the far reaching nature of the California effect.
As I stated in another post, though, I don’t think Apple should be especially deserved of praise given their antagonistic nature against right-to-repair. My guess is that a California lawmaker made it clear that they would have to bend and so they saw it advantageous to get ahead of the messaging.
Perhaps I’m cynical, but it is convenient that this news comes on the coattails of Apple’s WWDC.
From the summary of the bill, it appears to apply to common consumer electronics and appliances.
I'm wondering what this bit means:
It would be nice to read a legal analysis by someone who's done their homework.
Not a lawyer - it seems to me this is a way to say that manufacturers aren’t obligated to make repair parts for 7 years if they weren’t going to make the parts at all. So a product that has a limited release and no plan for 1st party repair won’t need to be followed by 7 years of repair part production. My guess is they only want to affect products that already have a repair part supply chain (like iPhones) but where the manufacturer keeps parts to themselves.
That’s my guess too but I’m wary about guessing.
Pinging @boxer_dogs_dance as, if memory serves, she is a lawyer and may be able/willing to provide expert insight.
I'm honored, but I don't know the industry and haven't worked in any area related to manufacturing or supply chain or logistics.
There are other attorneys here and people who work in all aspects of technology.
Gotcha, wasn't sure your area of expertise and off the top of my head you were the first lawyer/attorney that came to mind.
Kevin Purdy
Repair shops must disclose if they're using "non-authorized" parts.