Apple has reversed its long-standing opposition to right-to-repair legislation and has now announced that it will support a national right-to-repair bill in the US.
The company also said that it will offer parts, manuals, & tools to independent repair shops and consumers.
This specific move is a significant victory for right-to-repair advocates, who continued to campaign for years to give consumers the right to repair their own devices.
Apple has been one of the most vocal opponents of right-to-repair laws, arguing that they would jeopardize the safety and security of its products.
However, in recent years, Apple has come under increasing pressure from consumers & regulators to make its products repairable.
In 2020, the company launched an independent repair program for independent repair shops, but the program received criticism for being too expensive & restrictive.
The new national right-to-repair bill would require manufacturers to provide independent repair shops & consumers with access to the parts, manuals, & tools that authorized repair centers use.
The Independent Repair Provider Program is specifically designed for those who are interested in offering out-of-warranty repair services for Macs and iPhones.
The distributor or parts resellers are not qualified for the program.
Apple has clearly stated in the program that it will not consider the applicants using Apple trademark terms as part of web pages or any company’s name unless they comply with Apple’s Trademark Terms.
The qualifying companies can only get access to genuine Apple parts, services, guides, training, tools, resources & diagnostics for the out-of-warranty repairs.
Apple’s support for the bill is a sign that the company is finally coming to terms with the right-to-repair movement.
The move will make it easier for consumers to repair their own devices, which could save them money & reduce electronic waste.
Some of the key details of Apple’s new policy:
- Apple will make parts, manuals, & tools available to independent repair shops & consumers through a new self-service repair program.
- Independent Repair Provider Program will cover a wide range of Apple products, including iPhones, iPads, & MacOS.
- Apple will also provide training & support to independent repair shops.