Apple Announces its Support for a Right to Repair Bill in California
For many years, Apple has been resistant to bills which have offered consumers the right to repair electronics. Recently, however, the tech giant declared its support for an adapted version of an R2R bill in California.
Apple highlighted that SB 244 provides a suitable equilibrium between, “consumer choice and reliable repairs” while still safeguarding privacy, data security and OEMs’ intellectual property.
“California’s final Right to Repair bill should balance device integrity, usability and physical safety with the desire of consumers to be able to repair, rather than replace, a device,” the organization voiced in support of the bill.
The California Assembly is currently discussing the proposed bill which was created by Senator Susan Eggman. The legislation seeks to construct a law ensuring that product owners and repair facilities are granted reasonable access to purchasing the necessary tools and parts needed for repairs.
The bill has already been approved by the Senate in June of this year, with an impending vote in the Assembly Appropriations Committee being predicted soon.
A Wide Range of Responses
The recent action taken by Apple has been widely praised by those who support right to repair initiatives. In a joint statement issued from CALPIRG, Californians Against Waste, and iFixit, it was noted, “For years, Apple has been one of the most visible opponents of repair access, lobbying against giving consumers and independent repair shops what they need to fix devices. However, with the Right to Repair movement gaining recognition and support – and leading to laws in other states – Apple has reversed course.”
At least five years have witnessed introductions of various iterations of California’s SB 244, yet all have failed to survive due to “intense industry lobbying efforts against their passage.”
Nick Lapis, the Director of Advocacy for Californians Against Waste, expressed in a statement with the press that Apple’s backing holds, “a lot of weight in the halls of the capitol.”
“It’s inspiring to see that Senator Susan Eggman’s tenacity, coupled with pressure from the passionate community of repair advocates, was able to get a behemoth the size of Apple to not only change their longstanding policy but to also buck the rest of the industry,” he continued. “The Right to Repair train is leaving the station, and it’s time for the rest of Silicon Valley to hop on!”
Some Remain Skeptical
However, not everyone was convinced by Apple’s abrupt shift in its stance. Gay Gordon-Byrne, the executive director of the Repair Association, suggested that Apple’s position “might be a PR tactic to spin a losing position into a win.”
A growing movement of support for consumers’ right to repair goods has been seen as several big OEMs and organizations have disclosed their backing of the bill, Gordon-Byrne noted.
“It was our triumph in states like New York, Minnesota and Colorado that forced manufacturers to drop their opposition and focus on compliance,” Gordon-Byrne added. “Frankly, California may have passed this law even without Apple’s endorsement.”
