SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Apple, Google & Microsoft Have Teamed up to Block the Right-to-Repair Law
Apple, Google & Microsoft Have Teamed up to Block the Right-to-Repair Law:
Bloomberg today released a report on how companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are working together to put a stop to laws that would make it necessary for companies to provide device schematics, genuine repair parts, and repair manuals to independent repair technicians.
Almost 27 states have considered the laws in 2021 alone, but in more than half of them, the laws have been voted down or dismissed. Many lobbyists and trade groups representing tech companies have fought hard against this law with Apple pointing out that such measures could lead to device damage or consumers harming themselves when attempting to repair their devices.
In Washington, for example, Washington House of Representatives Democrat Mia Gregerson sponsored a Right to Repair measure that was fought by Microsoft, Google, Amazon, along with lobbyists representing Apple. Lobbyists later said that Apple would endorse repair programs at local colleges if the bill was dropped.
Also at Bloomberg and MacRumors.
See also: Leaked Apple Documents Inadvertently Helped the Right-to-Repair Movement
Louis Rossmann Starts a GoFundMe to Get "Right to Repair" Legistation Passed Through a Direct Ballot
Summary Louis Rossmann, electronics repairman and YouTuber, has started a nonprofit and GoFundMe campaign to fight to get right to repair legislation passed through direct ballot initiatives. For years Louis has talked about the importance of right to repair and how it has become more difficult t...
Right to repair series - Louis Rossmann
In this series he specifically explains why we need better right to repair laws.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyM7FxEaShI
Original Submission #1 Original Submission #2 Original Submission #3
(Score: 5, Insightful) by maxwell demon on Friday May 21 2021, @05:57PM (9 children)
From the summary, emphasis by me:
Makes totally sense. </sarcasm>
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 21 2021, @06:22PM (1 child)
Indeed. The entire lot of them can go fuck themselves. Sideways. With a rusty hacksaw.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday May 21 2021, @06:27PM
They already tried that once. It resulted in brain damage leading to the current situation where their devices cannot be repaired.
If you think a fertilized egg is a child but an immigrant child is not, please don't pretend your concerns are religious
(Score: 2) by slinches on Friday May 21 2021, @06:42PM (1 child)
The logic there is that consumers will harm themselves by forcing the companies to remove or cripple hadware features that could be repaired to extend the life beyond what the company has computed to be optimal for their profits.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 22 2021, @02:42PM
That's a bit like suggesting that it's his own fault that I put that severed horse's head in his bed, he should have taken my offer. We need proper regulations that hold companies accountable when their devices don't last a reasonable amount of time. There's no reason why batteries need to be soldered to the board when a dab of hot glue will prevent them from jiggling loose, the small amount of extra resistance is just not that significant.
There's also no reason for companies to be allowed to bundle unrelated software that can't be uninstalled from the device by the owner. They sold the device, they shouldn't be allowed to dictate how it's going to be used beyond the basics needed to prevent damage to the networks they're connecting to.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by sjames on Friday May 21 2021, @10:06PM (4 children)
That and the crazy paternalistic attitude. They sound like a parent telling a 3 year old "no no" when they explore an electrical outlet.
I'm pretty sure I can handle changing out a battery without any fatalities.
If companies were really interested in consumers not hurting themselves, they'd stop with the bulletproof blister packaging (responsible for about 1600 ER visits/year in the U.S.).
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Saturday May 22 2021, @12:33AM (1 child)
Again, let's not concentrate so much on what any individual consumer may or may not be able to do. You and I can change batteries out, big and small, in almost any application, from personal use to industrial scale. But, that really doesn't matter. If I find some exotic setup that I can't handle, I can always find someone who can do the job for me.
Cars again - there are shops in every town that will work on your Dodge, your Chevy, your Ford, or your Freightliner. You have the choice of returning your vehicle to the factory authorized dealer, or going to Suzy's Beauty Shop and Auto Repair at the shopping center.
This is the choice John Deere owners and iPhone owners alike are demanding.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by sjames on Saturday May 22 2021, @01:20AM
That is worth keeping in mind as well. Even people who are a danger to themselves and others if they go near tools can benefit from taking their device to a nearby independent repair shop or a friend.
(Score: 2) by Dr Spin on Saturday May 22 2021, @06:45AM
I'm pretty sure I can handle changing out a battery without any fatalities.
Don't tell anyone - Apple will say you are not doing it right!
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!
(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Saturday May 22 2021, @07:47PM
Yeah, that paternalism leapt out at me. Infantilize us all. Very offensive. Like those warning labels on so many electronic devices that they should only be serviced by trained professionals. And that you'll void your warranty if you dare try it yourself. Manufacturers been saying that crap for decades.