Lobbyist working for Apple, other companies helps dilute Right to Repair law

A lobbyist working for Apple, Google, Samsung, and other tech companies succeeded in diluting the impact of a Right to Repair law. Tech trade group TechNet gave suggested wording to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who reportedly inserted that language verbatim, reports 9to5Mac.

The article says the new wording places limits on the spare parts that tech giants have to make available to customers and independent repair shops. This isn’t the first time Apple and other big tech firms have worked to dilute such laws. 

In March 2021 trade groups representing big tech companies including Apple clashed with independent repair shop owners in a committee hearing in the Nevada Legislature over a proposal to require hardware manufacturers give repair shops the means to fix devices like computers, phones, tablets and printers, reported the AP News.

“Right to Repair” bills are loosely based on a Massachusetts ballot initiative that voters approved last year to make car parts and plans available to repair shops. Such bills means manufacturers such as Apple will have to sell replacement parts to independent repair shops and consumers and will also have to make their diagnostic and service manuals public.