Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

CTOnews.com Apple has been controversial in recent years for opposing the Right to Repair Act, but this week the company decided to support California's Right to Repair Act SB 244, which requires businesses to provide consumers with tools to diagnose and repair consumer electronics and home appliances.

Apple sent a letter yesterday to California Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman urging the California legislature to pass the bill, according to repair website iFixit.

Apple has launched a self-repair program that lets consumers buy repair kits, repair manuals and parts to repair iPhones and Macs. Apple also offers repair shops a variety of repair options, including options to become an Apple Authorized Service Provider and obtain parts through the Independent Repair Provider Program, so the company may have met SB 244 requirements.

California's bill also requires disclosure of non-original or used parts if the repair provider is not authorized by the business. That means independent iPhone repair shops in California will be required to source parts from Apple or inform customers that device repairs are done using counterfeit or used parts.

In addition, the bill has a provision that prevents businesses from being required to provide tools, parts and documentation to any component that might disable or override anti-theft security measures, including features like Face ID.

Independent repair shops already have the option of buying parts from Apple, but complain Apple forces them to sign intrusive contracts. As for the "self-repair" program, Apple sells kits and components that aren't much cheaper than simply repairing them at Apple stores.

In its letter, Apple said it would continue to support the bill as long as it protected "consumers and innovators." Apple highlighted specific provisions in the bill that contain its preferred protections. These articles include:

Ensure that the bill does not threaten consumer safety and data security and does not require manufacturers to allow repair providers to disable device security features that are required by police or law to prevent theft.

Focusing on requiring manufacturers to provide documentation, tools, and parts to authorized repair channels rather than a broader undefined repair scope could compromise consumer safety, repair reliability, and equipment integrity.

Require repair providers to disclose the use of non-genuine or used parts.

Proactive applications allow manufacturers to focus on building new products that conform to the proposal.

Apple hasn't supported right-to-repair legislation in the past, but SB 244 isn't as open as some state-driven repair bills in the past, nor is it a free pass to repair shops because it contains consumer protections that prevent repair facilities from secretly using inferior repair parts.

California consumers will also benefit from the bill's requirement that any product that sells for more than $99.99 (CTOnews.com notes: currently about 730 yuan) provide parts, repair manuals and other necessary repair information to consumers within seven years.

Welcome to subscribe "Shulou Technology Information " to get latest news, interesting things and hot topics in the IT industry, and controls the hottest and latest Internet news, technology news and IT industry trends.