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FTC unanimously adopts Right to Repair policy to reduce restrictions from manufacturers like Apple

iCracked bought by Allstate

Back in May, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a report about “anti-competitive repair restrictions” in the US including concerns about Apple. Then, President Biden signed an executive order for the FTC to create new Right to Repair rules. Now that process has started with the FTC unanimously voting to approve a new policy statement that’s looking to restore “Right to Repair for small businesses, workers, consumers, and government entities.”

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President Biden executive order adds to right to repair pressure on Apple

President Biden executive order on competition

A new President Biden executive order adds to the right to repair pressure on Apple. One of 72 initiatives in the order specifically calls on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to introduce rules against restrictions on DIY and third-party repairs.

While some of the text references the agriculture industry – and tractors in particular – there is a separate reference to “cell phone manufacturers” …

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Federal Right to Repair changes on the way could loosen Apple’s grip on iPhone

iPhone battery

In May, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a report about “anti-competitive repair restrictions” in the US, including multiple concerns about Apple’s business practices around iPhone. Now the Biden administration is expected to ask the FTC to write up new rules that could expand the ability for individuals and independent shops to perform smartphone repairs and more.

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Apple repair shops turn to documents leaked by ransom group to recover lost data

Last month, the ransomware group REvil breached Apple supplier Quanta, gaining access to detailed schematics of past and future Apple products. The ransomware leak revealed details of the forthcoming MacBook Pro update, including specific information about the addition of new I/O options on the side.

A new report from Motherboard today details how the leaked schematics are also helping repair experts learn more about Apple’s internal design.

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FTC calls out Apple in report on ‘anti-competitive repair restrictions’

FTC anti-competitive repair restrictions

A Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report on “anti-competitive repair restrictions” specifically calls out Apple for a number of practices that hamper repairs by independent workshops.

The FTC says that repair restrictions hurt both consumers and small businesses, and argues for a combination of new right-to-repair laws and better enforcement of existing ones …

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iFixit finds iPhone 12 camera repair impossible without proprietary Apple tool

iPhone 12 camera repair

Update: The problem was first discovered by Hugh Jeffreys – video below.

iFixit has found that an iPhone 12 camera repair or replacement cannot be made without access to a proprietary Apple tool which is only available to technicians authorized by the company.

The company says this appears to prevent DIY repairs at home, as well as those by third-party companies who do not have access to the online software tool …

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Comment: I instinctively support ‘right to repair’ but do appreciate the trade-offs

Some eighteen states have now signed a Right to Repair bill, with California the latest to sign up. The bills say that manufacturers must facilitate DIY and third-party repairs by publishing repair information and making both replacement parts and diagnostic tools available to consumers.

I’m instinctively on the side of those who think that devices should be both repairable and expandable by their owners. But I do recognize the trade-offs that involves …


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NY State records show what Apple & other tech companies spend lobbying against the right to repair

New York state records reveal the sums Apple, Verizon, Lexmark and other tech companies have spent there on lobbying efforts against right to repair legislation.

We learned back in February that Apple was formally opposing a bill in Nebraska that would have given consumers and independent repair shops the legal right to buy spare parts and to access service manuals in order to carry out their own repairs. That opposition was successful, lawmakers backing down.

Apple is currently fighting attempts to introduce a Fair Repair Act in New York after successfully defeating similar bills in both 2015 and 2016 …


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