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I don't see how this kind of state legislation solves any issue. In the example given...Apple has never authorized a company to repair iPhones, but there are l

I don't see how this kind of state legislation solves any issue. In the example given...Apple has never authorized a company to repair iPhones, but there are literally hundreds of companies out there who do it anyway...they just can't advertise that they're certified by Apple. The big problem seems to be the Department of Homeland Security raiding small local businesses and harassing them over "counterfeit parts". First of all, in most cases you're just dealing with typical small circuit boards and pieces of aluminum or glass or plastic. Second of all...why is this a matter for the DHS? Aren't they people who should be looking for bombs and things and dealing with actual important stuff? Now, this law might make some supply of official parts available, so that's kind of positive, but there's an issue with that. Does that mean that every repair company can now only buy parts from Apple or risk a raid? This limits potential suppliers of commodity parts from many to just 1 and could jack up prices. The end result is that the consumer gets a piece of "Official Apple Glass" or "Official Apple Circuitboard" and pays much more for the privilege. As a consumer, I don't see a significant benefit to that.

jws 10y ago
why is this a matter for the DHS? The DHS was created by aggregating 22 existing agencies. Those agencies are still responsible for their traditional functions. The US Customs and Border Inspections is one such agency, it enforces laws against counterfeit goods and violations of US companies intellectual property rights.
CaptSpify 10y ago
I would argue that this is more relevant to something like the medical repair industry. I have worked with repairing medical equipment and it's often required to use official parts. Yet oftentimes manufacturers won't sell you the parts you need.
em3rgent0rdr 10y ago
My feelings are the the way forward is to not make more restrictions on what companies can do (by forcing them to sell repair parts), but rather to simply remove currently-existing restrictions on everybody in the form of IP laws (i.e. patents and copyrights on components) which prohibit consumers from legally making their own repair parts and doing their own repairs.
redpieintheface 10y ago
Diagnostics manuals and schematics are currently illegally obtained by third party repairers (if they are available); if this was made legal it would potentially have far more value than the ability to freely purchase replacement parts.
djsumdog 10y ago
In New Zealand, we have the Consumer Protection Act. It has helped considerably. Mobile Station, an Auckland company, refused to warranty my Nexus 4 that died (mobile data stopped working first, but Wi-Fi/text still worked. Then it all died). I reflashed the stock OS but forgot to relock the phone. They tried to say since I replaced the OS, I voided the warranty. I said the warning screen says "This might void your warranty" but that didn't apply because in NZ, we have the consumer protection act. https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/consumer-law-and-your-rights/consumer-guarantees-act/consumer-guarantees-for-products/ https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/consumer-law-and-your... I had to go through a tribunal, that went two session each about 2 hours. I wasn't sure if I could make my case. I tried to state phone modification isn't warranty voiding; that people reinstall Windows or Linux onto laptops they purchase and that doesn't void the warranty. The arbitrator eventually found in my favour because the device had failed slowly indicating a hardware failure and the manufacture didn't offer to repair the device for a fee (you are required to supply parts or repair). It was way too much work for $480, but I'm still glad that protection exists.

jws 10y ago

why is this a matter for the DHS? The DHS was created by aggregating 22 existing agencies. Those agencies are still responsible for their traditional functions. The US Customs and Border Inspections is one such agency, it enforces laws against counterfeit goods and violations of US companies intellectual property rights.

CaptSpify 10y ago

I would argue that this is more relevant to something like the medical repair industry. I have worked with repairing medical equipment and it's often required to use official parts. Yet oftentimes manufacturers won't sell you the parts you need.

em3rgent0rdr 10y ago

My feelings are the the way forward is to not make more restrictions on what companies can do (by forcing them to sell repair parts), but rather to simply remove currently-existing restrictions on everybody in the form of IP laws (i.e. patents and copyrights on components) which prohibit consumers from legally making their own repair parts and doing their own repairs.

redpieintheface 10y ago

Diagnostics manuals and schematics are currently illegally obtained by third party repairers (if they are available); if this was made legal it would potentially have far more value than the ability to freely purchase replacement parts.

djsumdog 10y ago

In New Zealand, we have the Consumer Protection Act. It has helped considerably. Mobile Station, an Auckland company, refused to warranty my Nexus 4 that died (mobile data stopped working first, but Wi-Fi/text still worked. Then it all died). I reflashed the stock OS but forgot to relock the phone. They tried to say since I replaced the OS, I voided the warranty. I said the warning screen says "This might void your warranty" but that didn't apply because in NZ, we have the consumer protection act. https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/consumer-law-and-your-rights/consumer-guarantees-act/consumer-guarantees-for-products/ https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/consumer-law-and-your... I had to go through a tribunal, that went two session each about 2 hours. I wasn't sure if I could make my case. I tried to state phone modification isn't warranty voiding; that people reinstall Windows or Linux onto laptops they purchase and that doesn't void the warranty. The arbitrator eventually found in my favour because the device had failed slowly indicating a hardware failure and the manufacture didn't offer to repair the device for a fee (you are required to supply parts or repair). It was way too much work for $480, but I'm still glad that protection exists.