HardwareOregon just passed the most powerful right to repair legislation yet in the USWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareOregon just passed the most powerful right to repair legislation yet in the USWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future)
The legislation would require electronics manufacturers to make repairs easier for customers, such as with easy access to replacement parts, tools, and information on how to do it. It includes laptops, phones, and most standard electronics you’d expect, except for medical equipment, farm equipment, and video game consoles, notesiFixit.
The access to parts and processes is a pretty big win on its own, but the Oregon legislation also takes down a practice known as parts pairing.
Parts pairing is a way of limiting repairs to authorised service centres. Essentially, it means you can’t take the same part off the shelf and replace it yourself, as even if you repaired it perfectly, the new part won’t be fully compliant with the device, likely due to an unmatched serial number. In other words, if you replace your phone battery with another,as iFixit notes, the phone may recognise the swap and you may be locked out of some features. While most notably an issue affecting phone repairs, parts pairing could be used to justify similar action for gaming laptops or handhelds.
“The Right to Repair keeps getting stronger. Oregon has passed the best bill yet,” saysPIRGright to repair campaign senior director Nathan Proctor.
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Google came out in supportof the Oregon legislation earlier this year, but Apple has been opposed to it on security concerns. The iPhone manufacturer believes without parts pairing its customers could be exposed tosecurity and privacy issues. iFixit notes that Apple has yet to explain “how every other major smartphone manufacturer has been able to allow selfie camera replacements, screen replacements, and battery replacements without artificially limiting features or throwing up aggressive warnings.”
With other states also in the process of similar legislature, such asCalifornia, andPresident Biden endorsing it, it does appear that the tide is generally turning in favour of easier-to-repair electronics. And not a day too soon.
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