Elizabeth Warren Outlines Right-To-Repair Legislation That Could Affect Apple's Products

[MacRumors]

Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has shared another Medium post today, this one outlining a plan to enact a national right-to-repair law in the event that she is elected. Her stance on right-to-repair laws is just a portion of her Medium post, which mostly focuses on "leveling the playing field" for American farmers.

One of Warren's points centers on the fact that many farmers are forced to rely on authorized agents to repair equipment, leading to higher prices for the farmer. Warren says this is "ridiculous" and that farmers should be able to repair their own equipment, leading to her "strong support" for a national right-to-repair law.

Although Warren's post focuses on agriculture, Motherboard points out that her legislation would impact American customers across the board, from farmers fixing tractors to an iPhone owner looking to fix their smartphone at a lower cost without breaking warranty.

Elizabeth Warren: Farmers should be able to repair their own equipment or choose between multiple repair shops. That's why I strongly support a national right-to-repair law that empowers farmers to repair their equipment without going to an authorized agent.

The national right-to-repair law should require manufacturers of farm equipment to make diagnostic tools, manuals, and other repair-related resources available to any individual or business, not just their own dealerships and authorized agents. This will not only allow individuals to fix their own equipment -- reducing delays -- but it will also create competition among dealers and independent repair shops, bringing down prices overall.

Apple encourages users to visit authorized repair shops, or Apple itself, to fix its devices. The company also builds its devices with many proprietary tools that make it difficult for users to repair at home, as many iFixit teardowns have proven. If Warren's legislation passed, this practice by Apple would seemingly be under a microscope in Washington.

This is the second Medium post that Warren has shared that could affect Apple in some way if she becomes President of the United States. Earlier this month, Warren outlined a plan to "break up" big tech companies to prevent monopolistic behavior. For Apple, this means that it would either have to choose between running the App Store or selling its first-party apps on it, but not both simultaneously.

The presidential candidate also wants to unwind big mergers like Amazon and Whole Foods, Facebook and Instagram, and Google and Nest. Warren argued that undoing these mergers would promote healthy competition in the tech market and put pressure back on big tech companies, making them more responsive to user concerns about privacy.

You can read Warren's latest Medium post here.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Elizabeth Warren Outlines Right-To-Repair Legislation That Could Affect Apple's Products

 

[crees!]

The fact that she wants to impose a national law says it all

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

I’m for it. Especially for Teslas.

 

[RedGala]

This is good. People who think this is "big control over people" see it the opposite for what it is; keeping companies from controlling our lives.

 

[Jmausmuc]

As a German: In my opinion it is very scary how many leftist ideas are currently being embraced in the USA. I always looked at the entrepreneurial spirits, the free markets and the general business positive attitude of the USA with a little bit of envy.

Now, many people want the government to increasingly interfere in people’s life’s, a policy that already hasn’t worked in Europe. Why should it work in the USA?

It’s no coincidence that all the big and successful tech companies of today were founded in the USA.

We need the US as a beacon of personal and entrepreneurial freedom.

 

[trifid]

Bring it on, it's clear private business has abused this for far too long, they asked for it and we need regulators to step in.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Bravo.

 

[Jmausmuc]

This is good. People who think this is "big control over people" see it the opposite for what it is; keeping companies from controlling our lives.

Nobody is forcing you do buy from these companies. Just exercise your right as a customer to choose instead of demanding legislation.

 

[Sasparilla]

I like this. We should be able to fix things we own - the issue with farmers is pitiful (If memory serves, I believe it's John Deere not allowing farmers to apply ROM updates to their own tractors etc. unless they go in and pay a big fee, with alot of them living on a knife edge financially, the fee is big enough (a profit center for Deere) they can't afford it).

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Nobody is forcing you do buy from these companies. Just exercise your right as a customer to choose instead of demanding legislation.

Please list tech companies that allow users to easily repair their own devices with first-party parts and I'll gladly make the switch.

 

[gixxerfool]

So when they attempt repairs on their own and do so poorly or incorrectly, they need to pay a big fee to fix their mistakes, is that ok? Or will that need to be free? Where does it stop?

 

[nerdAFK]

I’m for it. Especially for Teslas.

You are kidding, right?

 

[Jmausmuc]

Please list tech companies that allow users to easily repair their own devices with first-party parts and I'll gladly make the switch.

Are you kidding? How are you going to repair glued super thin tech devices like phones? If in fact everyone is doing it, there is a reason for it.

You people always imagine companies as some kind of dictators that can do how they please when they are in fact are constantly fighting for survival in the marketplace. So many formerly big companies were suddenly disrupted when nobody expected it.

If there were a market for DOY repairable phones, someone would offer them.

For laptops there are many alternatives or you could build your own desktop pc.

But you want the benefits of today’s precisely engineered super thin devices and also get cheap repairers and you want the government to make it happen for you...

 

[aardwolf]

"in the event that she is elected"

Well, nothing to worry about then...

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Are you kidding? How are you going to repair glued super thin tech devices like phones? If in fact everyone is doing it, there is a reason for it.

You people always imagine companies as some kind of dictators that can do how they please when they are in fact are constantly fighting for survival in the marketplace. So many formerly big companies were suddenly disrupted when nobody expected it.

If there were a market for DOY repairable phones, someone would offer them.

For laptops there are many alternatives or you could build your own desktop pc.

But you want the benefits of today’s precisely engineered super thin devices and also get cheap repairers and you want the government to make it happen for you...

That's not what I said, at all, and I see you have no answer for me. Have a nice day

 

[Braderunner]

His pos

Please list tech companies that allow users to easily repair their own devices with first-party parts and I'll gladly make the switch.

His post is fiction. It makes no sense. Just a political view.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

So when they attempt repairs on their own and do so poorly or incorrectly, they need to pay a big fee to fix their mistakes, is that ok? Or will that need to be free? Where does it stop?

Of course they would need to pay if they damaged it further, but right to repair also offers more options for third party shops (read: shops with capable techs, but not necessarily access to OEM parts and repair manuals) to compete.

 

[junior]

As a German: In my opinion it is very scary how many leftist ideas are currently being embraced in the USA. I always looked at the entrepreneurial spirits, the free markets and the general business positive attitude of the USA with a little bit of envy.

Now, many people want the government to increasingly interfere in people’s life’s, a policy that already hasn’t worked in Europe. Why should it work in the USA?

It’s no coincidence that all the big and successful tech companies of today were founded in the USA.

We need the US as a beacon of personal and entrepreneurial freedom.

Back when I had a Mac G3, Powerbooks, G4, etc, I was able to fix a lot of things myself, as could tech shops if I wasn't able to. Look what's happened to pretty much all Apple products now.
They're no longer what they used to be (though shareholders are happy) so I'm all for stuff like this that helps individuals and small businesses.

 

[gixxerfool]

Of course they would need to pay if they damaged it further, but right to repair also offers more options for third party shops (read: shops with capable techs, but not necessarily access to OEM parts and repair manuals) to compete.

I should have been clearer. The article stated without affecting the warranty. I can see a slew of people trying to replace their own screens, messing it up and trying to get warranty work done clogging up the system. As a technician I’m all for outside repairs, but Apple has their party repair facilities with trained techs. So I’m confused why this would affect them.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

With any consumer or commercial product, the manufacturer is liable for defects and personal injury. The purpose of using a trained authorized agent is to ensure repairs are done according to manufacturers instructions and using OEM parts. You already have the right to repair, but the manufacturer has to right to not honor any future warranty or liability claims if you use an unauthorized agent. Don't think we need right to repair legislation. If it does occur, then manufacturers will simply change the product terms and conditions to further insulate themselves from product liability. In the end, only the lawyers will be the winners when they have to $pend more time proving/defending lability in the courts, which the manufacturers will simply pass the cost on in the form of higher prices.

Thanks EW.

 

[rjtyork]

As a German: In my opinion it is very scary how many leftist ideas are currently being embraced in the USA. I always looked at the entrepreneurial spirits, the free markets and the general business positive attitude of the USA with a little bit of envy.

Now, many people want the government to increasingly interfere in people’s life’s, a policy that already hasn’t worked in Europe. Why should it work in the USA?

It’s no coincidence that all the big and successful tech companies of today were founded in the USA.

We need the US as a beacon of personal and entrepreneurial freedom.

I wish more people would listen to you. I have been watching this since I was 17 as a libertarian. It’s super interesting to watch, but now I’m an anarchist because I just think that’s what technology will do to us over the next 20-30 years. No matter who ends up being president, I think the war has been won and anarchy is inevitable.

 

[ggibson913]

You already have the right to repair your own phone. If you screw it up, it isn’t Apple’s problem nor should it be.

She should stay out of tech until she learns it. Comparing repairing a tractor to repairing your own phone. Come on.

 

[applesith]

And who is going to pay for these government mandated equipment and training materials? Who is going to be responsible when some hack repair agent does a crap job and the repaired item doesn't work?

The more she talks of her big government take over of tech, the better. I hope Americans see her for what she is.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

I should have been clearer. The article stated without affecting the warranty. I can see a slew of people trying to replace their own screens, messing it up and trying to get warranty work done clogging up the system. As a technician I’m all for outside repairs, but Apple has their party repair facilities with trained techs. So I’m confused why this would affect them.

Which part are you referring to? I'm not sure I see it. In any case, yes, this is a concern, but having worked for both Apple and a third party repair shop, a sloppy repair attempt is usually obvious. It wouldn't surprise me if a caveat of RTR is that user-caused damage during a repair would be grounds to void the warranty. But things like iPhone screens and batteries are relatively straightforward, provided you keep track of your screws.

 

[aaronhead14]

As much as I like the “idea” of the right to repair movement (I’m 100% in support of consumer-friendly products), having the government force companies to make products a certain way sounds super dangerous. Companies should be free to choose how they make and sell their products. And then we, as consumers, have the right to call them out when they make dumb decisions. But forcing them to change is kind of evil.