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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 Opportunist on Saturday August 26 2023, @09:08PM (6 children)
Why the fuck would anyone give a damn about a company "supporting" a bill?
As far as I am concerned, whether Apple "supports" that bill or not should not be relevant at all. I don't get asked whether I "support" a bill, and unlike Apple, I at least could vote for or against the politicians passing them.
So why do they care whether Apple "supports" that bill? If they didn't, the only answer they should get is "tough luck, fuck off".
(Score: 2) by Ox0000 on Sunday August 27 2023, @12:40AM (5 children)
Ah, you see, in our wonderful democracy, for the people, by the people, of the people, the politicians are owned by the corporations (since Citizens United, the 'people' I referred to earlier).
So while you're right that no-one cares whether or not you support a bill, the corporate people matter, because they determine whether or not something makes it through. Hence the proverbial 'we' care. And while you can indeed vote, those votes don't matter either, because what does matter is how much money the Corporate People can shove towards the politicians so that they keep their job by getting pocket money to spend on psyops/advertisement towards the populace that has that vote, with the sole goal after elections being to please the corporations that got them that pocket money.
See, we are a nation of checks and balances: checks make it into the coffers of the politicians, and then they do the precarious balancing of making it look like they work for the voter, while in reality working for their sugar daddies.
</cynical>
Now all of this being said and somewhat unrelated, your post made me think of the phrasing corporations use when they find themselves in the crosshairs of the federal government. They say things such as "we look forward to cooperating fully with ... etc..." as if they have a choice...
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Reziac on Sunday August 27 2023, @02:29AM (4 children)
The problem is that We the Peons cannot afford the correct grade of bri-- er, lobbyists.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Opportunist on Sunday August 27 2023, @09:10PM (3 children)
Maybe if we do a kickstarter we can buy our very own politician?
(Score: 3, Funny) by Reziac on Sunday August 27 2023, @09:53PM (2 children)
You jest, but why not? We've tried everything else!
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by canopic jug on Monday August 28 2023, @02:35PM (1 child)
Just be sure that when you buy one, that the purchase comes with proper warranty [sjgames.com].
(That was floating around Usenet for ages, but any old mentions of it cannot be found easily.)
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In all seriousness, Right to Repair did hire at least one full-time lobbyist and that seems to be making the difference.
Money is not free speech. Elections should not be auctions.
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Monday August 28 2023, @03:08PM
Well, if the manufacturer won't honor the extended warranty, you can always recycle the gov't official. Pigs need to eat too.
Aha! a lobbyist! we should have known!!
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[I hadn't seen the warranty claim. Thanks for making my day!]
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.