Verizon, Apple Continue to Lobby Against Your 'Right to Repair' A handful of states are pursuing so-called "right to repair" laws, which would make it easier for consumers to repair their own technology purchases and find replacement parts and tools. The proposals first originated of all places with John Deere tractor owners, who say the company's draconian restrictions placed on what owners can do with their tractors has made the cost of doing business significantly more expensive. But the push is increasingly popular among cellular phone and tablet owners, frustrated by rigid, costly repair monopolies.

Third party phone repair shops say that phone makers like Apple and game console makers like Sony and Microsoft have effectively monopolized repair, using their size and power to drive smaller companies out of business. Verizon and Apple have worked in union to thwart such bills in several states, but traditionally don't like to publicly talk about their lobbying on this front. They now have another state to worry about, with Washington State considering their own right to repair bill, created in the wake of outrage over Apple's decision to throttle the performance of older phones to (Apple insists) protect device integrity in the wake of failing battery performance. "It was introduced before [the throttling] news broke, but that’s become something constituents and legislators have sunk their teeth into," Jeff Morris, the Washington representative who introduced the bill tells Motherboard. “They can say ‘this is what we’re talking about’ and point to this as the type of thing that is accelerating the demise of their technology so they have to buy the next model.” After Apple confirmed it throttles the performance of older iPhones, the waitlist to have your phone replaced has been arguably absurd, something that could be easily fixed by opening the door to third-party repair shops, while simultaneously helping out small businesses. 14 different tech trade groups-- including the Consumer Technology Association, the CTIA, the Telecommunications Industry Association, the Computer Technology Industry Association, and the Entertainment Software Association--called the bill “unwarranted." AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile fund and dictate policy for at least two of those associations. Apple has been notably obnoxious on this issue. When the company was trying to Apple has been notably obnoxious on this issue. When the company was trying to shoot down one such law in Nebraska , it attempted to claim that bringing more repair options to consumers would result in the state becomming a "mecca for hackers" and other "bad actors."







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Most recommended from 62 comments



chuch

join:2001-04-11

Tampa, FL 16 recommendations chuch Member iPropaganda When [Apple] was trying to shoot down one such law in Nebraska, it attempted to claim that bringing more repair options to consumers would result in the state becomming (sic) a "mecca for hackers" and other "bad actors." Anything to scare the iSheep so they keep going back to the iStore to pay for over priced repair costs. Apple is good with this type of propaganda... microphone

Premium Member

join:2009-04-29

Parkville, MD 12 recommendations microphone Premium Member I still build and maintain my own PC I can select the parts, features, and acceptable price points that meet my needs.

hamburglar

join:2002-04-29

united state 26.0 3.8

8 recommendations hamburglar Member Saving stuff from the scrap pile



Glad this guy posts common problems and resolution to many Apple 'non-repairable' 'board swap' issues. I purchased this 2010 Macbook model used and it had the issue he fixes in the video. He's made a living out of repairing Apple stuff that shouldn't be repaired, according to Apple. »www.youtube.com/watch?v= ··· gT_fiVTA joe1234560

join:2001-01-29

Des Plaines, IL 7 recommendations joe1234560 Member fine if you give full warranty for at least 1-2 years for free fine if you give full warranty for at least 1-2 year for free and yes that means free battery swaps as well.