Apple has publicly taken a stand against the right to repair movement. It’s fighting such legislation is multiple states across the country but it now seems that Apple may be willing to soften its stance on the matter. Internal documents from Apple show that the company is in a position to implement right to repair legislation.
Motherboard has obtained an internal Apple document from 2018 which mentions that the company has started to give some repair companies access to its diagnostic software, a wide variety of genuine repair parts, repair training, and places no restrictions on the types of repairs that the independent companies are allowed to do.
The document adds that these independent repair companies can “keep doing what you’re doing, with … Apple genuine parts, reliable parts supply, and Apple process and training.” This is broadly in line with what right to repair activists have been asking for.
Apple, like many other tech companies, tightly controls the repair process for their devices. These companies offer authorized repair services, use software that prevents third-party repair, and also limit the supply of original replacement parts to independent companies. Right to repair legislation has been introduced in 20 states which would mandate access to such parts by the companies to independent repair companies and the general public at large. The legislation will also require them to make their internal repair guides and diagnostic tools public.
The program that’s described in this presentation is different from Apple’s standard Authorized Service Provider program. Repair companies are only allowed to complete specific repair jobs approved by Apple. For any other work, they have to mail the device to Apple for service. Apple has not commented on the matter so an official response regarding the softening of its opposition to the right to repair movement is yet to come on record.
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