https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/hell-freezes-over-as-apple-supports-right-to-repair-bill/
Somewhere, ol' Beelzebub is putting on his thickest coat because Apple has endorsed a right-to-repair bill, suggesting hell has frozen over. In a letter dated August 22, Apple showed its support for California's right-to-repair bill, SB 244, after spending years combatting DIY repair efforts.
As reported by TechCrunch, the letter, written to California state Senator Susan Eggman, declared that Apple supports SB 244 and urged the legislature to pass it.
[...] The bill has been praised by right-to-repair activists like iFixit, who says the bill goes further than right-to-repair laws passed in Minnesota and New York. Minnesota's law was considered the most all-encompassing right-to-repair legislation yet. Some activists, though, lamented that companies aren't required to sell parts and tools for devices not actively sold. California's bill, however, keeps vendors on the hook for three years after the last date of manufacture if the product is $50 to $99.99 and seven years if it's over $99.99.
The bill also allows a city, county, or state to bring a related case to superior court rather than only a state attorney general, as noted by iFixit's blog post Wednesday.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by RS3 on Saturday August 26 2023, @05:39PM (1 child)
I'm sure there's language in the bill that Apple's
sharkslawyers have already figured out has loopholes, can be circumvented through clever language games, posturing, postponing hearings, and delaying judgements if any happen.What really bothers me, much more, is that Apple, or any corporation, has so much influence in government, and essentially swamps the legislators such that they're clueless about what We the People want.
(Score: 3, Touché) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Saturday August 26 2023, @09:04PM
You assume the legislators cares about what We The People think. How naive.
All they know is who lines their pockets and who contributes to their campaign come the elections. Politicians could very well tell lobbyists off and decide to serve their constituents instead, but they choose not to.