Apple's Attitude Shift: Supporting California's Right to Repair Bill

Apple's attitude towards legislation related to the right to repair has made a 180-degree turn.

On Wednesday, August 24th, Eastern Time, some media outlets obtained a letter from Apple to California Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman, indicating Apple's support for the proposed right to repair bill, Senate Bill 244 (SB 244).

In the letter, Apple stated that they support SB 244 because it allows consumers to safely repair Apple devices without risking privacy and data issues. The letter reads:

"We support SB 244 because it includes requirements to protect the personal safety of individual users and the intellectual property of product manufacturers. As long as it continues to provide protection for customers and innovators, we will continue to support this bill."

Apple stated that they will continue to support the bill as long as it requires repair shops to disclose the use of "non-genuine or used parts," but they will not support the bill if it allows repair shops to disable Apple's remote anti-theft lock. Disabling the lock usually renders old computers unrepairable or unactivatable.

In a subsequent statement sent to the media, Apple expressed that supporting SB 244 would allow all Californians to have access to more repair services while protecting their safety and privacy. Apple users can expect an increasing number of secure and high-quality repair options.

Media outlets pointed out that Apple has historically opposed legislation related to the right to repair, although they have not directly lobbied against such bills. In the past, Apple has used its strong influence to prevent the passage of similar bills in states like New York.

Some commentators believe that Apple's opposition to these bills may be partly due to the fact that Apple provides AppleCare+ insurance for all of its major products, which increases foot traffic to physical stores and sometimes generates additional revenue when products need to be replaced. Additionally, Apple places great importance on maintaining quality and customer experience. Unauthorized repair personnel using substandard materials may further damage the devices or render them inoperable.

However, in recent years, under pressure from consumer advocacy groups, Apple has relaxed its requirements. In 2021, Apple introduced a self-repair program that allows customers to replace Apple batteries under the program. This program also enables customers to purchase genuine parts directly from Apple for self-repair.

In the letter on Wednesday, Apple opened the door to further expanding the scope of the right to repair. The letter stated that Apple is pleased to support Assemblymember Eggman's efforts to enhance consumer choice in California.

In a May vote in the California Senate, Eggman's SB 244 bill received 38 votes in favor and now requires a full vote by the legislature.

According to media reports, at least 14 states in the United States have introduced bills similar to SB 244. Last year, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Digital Fair Repair Act, which requires original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide diagnostic and repair information for digital electronic product components and devices to authorized repair service providers, as well as independent repairers and consumers.