4 ms·

Cynically this could be one of those laws that the big producers like Apple have a competitive advantage over smaller companies that do one-off production runs

Cynically this could be one of those laws that the big producers like Apple have a competitive advantage over smaller companies that do one-off production runs with contract manufacturers. When you are at the scale of Apple, you could have a whole team designing your right-to-repair compliant processes, and lobbyists to ensure the law as passed is most favorable to your implementation. It also fits in nicely with Apples general SKU-minimization philosophy (though they've been loosening up there). It is a lot easier to stock parts/manuals/tools for 3 phone SKUs per year which you continue to sell for 2 years than for 25 Samsung Galaxy somethings.

mlinhares 3y ago
But are there smaller companies producing one-off product runs in the smartphone market that are actually noticeable?
morkalork 3y ago
It would be twist if instead of industries lobbying for loop holes in right to repair bills, they started lobbying for thorough to the point of being Byzantine ones to keep new entrants out of the market. I guess it will be a function of how worried they are about their moat.
- hed 3y ago
  This is exactly what turned domestic US sales tax collection. Once there was market share, figuring out jurisdictional taxing became a moat to keep small players out.
  - lotsofpulp 3y ago
    Insane that the US government does not offer an API for it.
- brookst 3y ago
  Incumbents love regulation as a barrier to entry. Doesn’t have to be Byzantine, just that extra 5% tax that combines with scale economies to make new entrants unviable. I’ve always thought RtR enthusiasts would be surprised when they finally caught the car. And here we are.
barumrho 3y ago
I hope there is some clause that exempts small manufacturers from having to comply...
- brookst 3y ago
  Wait, what? Why should Inas a consumer have fewer rights because I bought a product from a smaller company? Should small airlines have less stringent safety regulations?
  - owisd 3y ago
    It would depend on the extent to which the consumer is a willing participant in the trade offs. It’s unreasonable for every passenger to assess the safety of different airlines in making a decision on who to fly with, but if you’re buying a niche smartphone you’re probably more aware of the trade offs. Also running a small batch of non-RtR compliant phones is probably going to result in a more expensive device than a mass produced RtR device due to economies of scale, whereas I’d guess it’s much easier for a small airline to undercut competitors by foregoing safety checks, so there’s more adverse incentives in the airline case.
  - hu3 3y ago
    Rules that vary based on company size are common. https://blog.execustaffhr.com/legal-compliance-based-on-your-company-size-what-you-need-to-know https://blog.execustaffhr.com/legal-compliance-based-on-your... This is mostly done to not suffocate small companies. A bad analogy if I may, we have less expectations with kids than with adults.
  - sojournerc 3y ago
    Small airplanes only require one pilot, even operating commercially, so in some senses, yes, smaller airlines are afforded some leeway.
- linuxftw 3y ago
  Why? They should be forced to release schematics, software, and firmware if they can't handle the repairs themselves. This will allow someone to repair it without assistance from the manufacturer.
TerrifiedMouse 3y ago
Although what you say isn’t wrong … Apple really can’t win. Oppose RtR. Gets criticized. Complies with RtR. Also gets criticized. LOL
- bogwog 3y ago
  That's called skepticism because people (rightly) don't trust Apple. Thats especially true when it comes to this, which is something they've been aggressively fighting against for years.
- trashburger 3y ago
  "Complies" is an overstatement. The independent repair program they released was so restrictive and missed so many key parts that it felt like intentional sabotage/poisoning of the well. "We helped independent repair shops but they can't even do basic stuff, see?" The self-repair program is a step in the right direction but it's also kind of disingenuous because it provides parts specifically to you, i.e. you can't just have an independent repairman order the parts for you. Which is still unhelpful if you're not adept at hardware repair/soldering.
  - tomjakubowski 3y ago
    Can't you bring the parts to a skilled technician and have them do the labor?
- simion314 3y ago
  >Apple really can’t win. Oppose RtR. Gets criticized. Complies with RtR. Also gets criticized. LOL Wrong, they can just do i - publish schematics for everyone (not only approved partners) - publish diagnostic software for everyone - sell repair tools and spare parts to everyone - allow legit users to use their broken devices parts for spare parts by providing ways for the owner to transfer ownership or renounce ownership claim over the device. - actually offer repair services instead of pretending soem small issue is unfix able and the user should buy a new device sicne repalcing the motherboard costs as much as a new device. - admit immediately where there is an hardware problem not only after they are forced by the justice system (at least we would avoid those annoying HN Apple fanboys that were rudely accusing people with the keyboard problem that they are putting food or drink on those keyboards and claimed Apple super paid engineers would have caught any problem with their SciFi robot hands that they use to test their keyboards, no joke, so many fanboys were defending Apple in that period)

mlinhares 3y ago

But are there smaller companies producing one-off product runs in the smartphone market that are actually noticeable?

morkalork 3y ago

It would be twist if instead of industries lobbying for loop holes in right to repair bills, they started lobbying for thorough to the point of being Byzantine ones to keep new entrants out of the market. I guess it will be a function of how worried they are about their moat.

hed 3y ago
This is exactly what turned domestic US sales tax collection. Once there was market share, figuring out jurisdictional taxing became a moat to keep small players out.
- lotsofpulp 3y ago
  Insane that the US government does not offer an API for it.
brookst 3y ago
Incumbents love regulation as a barrier to entry. Doesn’t have to be Byzantine, just that extra 5% tax that combines with scale economies to make new entrants unviable. I’ve always thought RtR enthusiasts would be surprised when they finally caught the car. And here we are.

barumrho 3y ago

I hope there is some clause that exempts small manufacturers from having to comply...

brookst 3y ago
Wait, what? Why should Inas a consumer have fewer rights because I bought a product from a smaller company? Should small airlines have less stringent safety regulations?
- owisd 3y ago
  It would depend on the extent to which the consumer is a willing participant in the trade offs. It’s unreasonable for every passenger to assess the safety of different airlines in making a decision on who to fly with, but if you’re buying a niche smartphone you’re probably more aware of the trade offs. Also running a small batch of non-RtR compliant phones is probably going to result in a more expensive device than a mass produced RtR device due to economies of scale, whereas I’d guess it’s much easier for a small airline to undercut competitors by foregoing safety checks, so there’s more adverse incentives in the airline case.
- hu3 3y ago
  Rules that vary based on company size are common. https://blog.execustaffhr.com/legal-compliance-based-on-your-company-size-what-you-need-to-know https://blog.execustaffhr.com/legal-compliance-based-on-your... This is mostly done to not suffocate small companies. A bad analogy if I may, we have less expectations with kids than with adults.
- sojournerc 3y ago
  Small airplanes only require one pilot, even operating commercially, so in some senses, yes, smaller airlines are afforded some leeway.
linuxftw 3y ago
Why? They should be forced to release schematics, software, and firmware if they can't handle the repairs themselves. This will allow someone to repair it without assistance from the manufacturer.

TerrifiedMouse 3y ago

Although what you say isn’t wrong … Apple really can’t win. Oppose RtR. Gets criticized. Complies with RtR. Also gets criticized. LOL

bogwog 3y ago
That's called skepticism because people (rightly) don't trust Apple. Thats especially true when it comes to this, which is something they've been aggressively fighting against for years.
trashburger 3y ago
"Complies" is an overstatement. The independent repair program they released was so restrictive and missed so many key parts that it felt like intentional sabotage/poisoning of the well. "We helped independent repair shops but they can't even do basic stuff, see?" The self-repair program is a step in the right direction but it's also kind of disingenuous because it provides parts specifically to you, i.e. you can't just have an independent repairman order the parts for you. Which is still unhelpful if you're not adept at hardware repair/soldering.
- tomjakubowski 3y ago
  Can't you bring the parts to a skilled technician and have them do the labor?
simion314 3y ago
>Apple really can’t win. Oppose RtR. Gets criticized. Complies with RtR. Also gets criticized. LOL Wrong, they can just do i - publish schematics for everyone (not only approved partners) - publish diagnostic software for everyone - sell repair tools and spare parts to everyone - allow legit users to use their broken devices parts for spare parts by providing ways for the owner to transfer ownership or renounce ownership claim over the device. - actually offer repair services instead of pretending soem small issue is unfix able and the user should buy a new device sicne repalcing the motherboard costs as much as a new device. - admit immediately where there is an hardware problem not only after they are forced by the justice system (at least we would avoid those annoying HN Apple fanboys that were rudely accusing people with the keyboard problem that they are putting food or drink on those keyboards and claimed Apple super paid engineers would have caught any problem with their SciFi robot hands that they use to test their keyboards, no joke, so many fanboys were defending Apple in that period)