Following Apple's lobbying in California last year, Google is supporting a right-to-repair bill in the Oregon State Legislature. However, they've still taken the opportunity to distinguish...
Following Apple's lobbying in California last year, Google is supporting a right-to-repair bill in the Oregon State Legislature. However, they've still taken the opportunity to distinguish themselves from their corporate rival.
Crucially, Google specifically says that regulators should ban “parts pairing,” which is a tactic used by Apple, John Deere, and other major manufacturers to artificially restrict which repair parts can be used with a given device: “Policies should constrain OEMs from imposing unfair anti-repair practices. For example, parts-pairing, the practice of using software barriers to obstruct consumers and independent repair shops from replacing components, or other restrictive impediments to repair should be discouraged,” the white paper says.
Personally, I am pleasantly surprised and hopeful about this trend towards public support for right-to-repair, but I'm still holding some skepticism about Google and Apple's motivation for their change in stance. Is it just that public opinion is so strong in favor, or are there other economic factors in play?
My assumption is that since Google is already willing to have various companies make hardware for them it means that even if these laws are applied equally, it'll hurt Apple way more. There isn't...
My assumption is that since Google is already willing to have various companies make hardware for them it means that even if these laws are applied equally, it'll hurt Apple way more. There isn't a single Google Phone screen that they make a mint from being the sole provider for in the way that there is only one source for Apple phone screens. It's a win for consumers, but for Google it's primarily a dig at the competition's business model.
Yeah, it sounds to me like Apple said, "we can hurt the competition if we get right to repair laws passed that favor us" and then Google said, "cool, then let's just go all the way and give the...
Yeah, it sounds to me like Apple said, "we can hurt the competition if we get right to repair laws passed that favor us" and then Google said, "cool, then let's just go all the way and give the people what they want."
Apple's 11th hour u-turn on right to repair laws allows them to influence the laws in just the right ways so they can continue making third party repairs still less desirable, i.e., by...
Apple's 11th hour u-turn on right to repair laws allows them to influence the laws in just the right ways so they can continue making third party repairs still less desirable, i.e., by implementing software locks or similar.
Google's involvement allows them to hurt their biggest competitor a lot, lot more than they would get hurt.
Yeah corps don't really care either way. They will fight something tooth and nail while also coming out and supporting it where they've already lost or are likely to. That is exactly what's going...
Yeah corps don't really care either way. They will fight something tooth and nail while also coming out and supporting it where they've already lost or are likely to. That is exactly what's going on here
It's not that this is a bad thing, but this feels like when monarchs negotiate the transition to democracy. Sure, you're not going to rule anymore, but at least you won't be decapitated. "Let us...
It's not that this is a bad thing, but this feels like when monarchs negotiate the transition to democracy. Sure, you're not going to rule anymore, but at least you won't be decapitated. "Let us do the revolution before the revolution comes".
Following Apple's lobbying in California last year, Google is supporting a right-to-repair bill in the Oregon State Legislature. However, they've still taken the opportunity to distinguish themselves from their corporate rival.
Personally, I am pleasantly surprised and hopeful about this trend towards public support for right-to-repair, but I'm still holding some skepticism about Google and Apple's motivation for their change in stance. Is it just that public opinion is so strong in favor, or are there other economic factors in play?
My assumption is that since Google is already willing to have various companies make hardware for them it means that even if these laws are applied equally, it'll hurt Apple way more. There isn't a single Google Phone screen that they make a mint from being the sole provider for in the way that there is only one source for Apple phone screens. It's a win for consumers, but for Google it's primarily a dig at the competition's business model.
Yeah, it sounds to me like Apple said, "we can hurt the competition if we get right to repair laws passed that favor us" and then Google said, "cool, then let's just go all the way and give the people what they want."
Apple's 11th hour u-turn on right to repair laws allows them to influence the laws in just the right ways so they can continue making third party repairs still less desirable, i.e., by implementing software locks or similar.
Google's involvement allows them to hurt their biggest competitor a lot, lot more than they would get hurt.
That's really it.
Yeah corps don't really care either way. They will fight something tooth and nail while also coming out and supporting it where they've already lost or are likely to. That is exactly what's going on here
It's not that this is a bad thing, but this feels like when monarchs negotiate the transition to democracy. Sure, you're not going to rule anymore, but at least you won't be decapitated. "Let us do the revolution before the revolution comes".