Apple Supports California Legislation for Repair Rights
According to iFixit, Apple has officially supported Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman’s Right to Repair Bill in California. Reuters reports that the company has even sent a letter to state legislators, urging them to pass Senate Bill 244. This bill would require companies to provide consumers and third-party providers with the necessary repair diagnostics and parts for their products. iFixit’s CEO, Kyle Wiens, described Apple’s endorsement as a significant moment for consumer rights. He believes that the passing of this bill could lead to a more competitive market, offering more affordable repair options and potentially dismantling the monopolies in the tech repair industry.
If SB 244 becomes law, the parts, tools and documentation needed to repair products costing between $50 and $100 must be available in the state for three years from the last date they were manufactured. Meanwhile, repair materials for products over $100 must be available for seven years. With these rules in place, manufacturers cannot refuse to make information or parts available when people are out of warranty. Businesses who violate the law are fined $1,000 per day for their first violation, $2,000 for their second violation, and $5,000 per day for other violations thereafter.
As iFixit points out, Apple has long opposed right-to-repair rules and previously said Nebraska would become a “hacker mecca” when the bill is introduced in the state. In recent years, however, the technology giant has shown signs of a change of heart. In 2021, Apple announced that it would begin selling parts and tools directly to consumers, and even offer repair guides to help them fix their iPhones and Macs themselves. “We support SB 244 because it contains requirements that protect the safety of individual users as well as the intellectual property rights of product manufacturers,” Apple wrote in the letter.
It remains to be seen whether Apple’s support can finally give the bill the support it needs to pass. Eggman introduced the Right to Repair Act in California back in 2018, but the bill was able to gather significant support only this year. The Senate unanimously approved the bill, which will have its final reading next week. After that, it must go to the floor and be approved by lawmakers one last time before the governor can sign it into law.
