Why Apple’s change of heart on Right to Repair movement a big policy shift?

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Msc

Context:

Apple, that was against the ‘right to repair’ movement just a few years ago, became its newest convert.

Details:

Earlier Apple said that giving users unauthorised repair access would make the state a hub for hackers.
Now, Apple is backing a legislation that will hand consumers and third-party firms the right to fix damaged electronic products.
- It says the law would benefit users and protect their privacy and security.

A shift in worldview:

The U.S. lawmakers enacted the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA, in the late 90s to stem intellectual property theft.
- In the U.S., large tech firms had made it illegalfor consumers and third-party repairers to fix devices that are powered by software codes under DMCA to ensure products they sold are only repaired by service centres under their control.
The DMCA offered protection to original equipment manufacturers (OEM) under Section 1201 of the Act by barring third-party repairers from breaking software protection codes.

Copyright Office intervenes:

Recently, the U.S. Copyright Office has allowed users to fix devices, including automobiles.
- In 2021, the office added new exemptions to the Section by allowing broad protection to consumer devices that rely on software codes.
Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, and a dozen other U.S. states have passed right to repair laws in different variations.
California is looking to enact its right to repair law.
- The SB 244 bill, combined with the Song-Beverly Act, provides specific guidelines on how long OEMs must provide parts and repair support.
- The bill also covers a wide range of consumer products that can be repaired without taking it to a company-authorized service centre.
- It enables the state to bring civil action suits against manufacturers that violate the law with a fine of upto $5,000 per day.
- Gaming consoles and alarm systems are not covered under the bill due to security concerns.
- To assuage concerns from companies over the use of intellectual property, this legislation does not require OEMs to share trade secrets or require them to distribute a product’s source code.

Two years ago, Apple had launched a self-service repair programme that allowed users to purchase parts and rent tools to fix their gadgets.

Right to Repair- Indian scenario:

The right to repair for consumer goods refers to the concept of allowing end users, consumers as well as businesses, to repair devices they own or service without any manufacturer or technical restrictions.
The Right to Repair India portal of the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution – Government of India provides warranty and post-sales information, provided by the consumer brands, to consumers in India.

Committee on Right to Repair:

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs (MCA) has set up a committee to come up with a Right to Repair framework.
The framework is significant as it will give consumers a chance to repair their products at an optimal cost instead of buying new products altogether.
The important sectors for the initial focus of the framework are farming equipment, mobile phones & tablets, consumer durables, automobiles & automobile equipment.
- Under this framework, it would be mandatory for manufacturers to share their product details with customers so that they can either repair them by self or by third parties, rather than only depending on original manufacturers.
- The framework also aims to help harmonize the trade between the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), third-party buyers and sellers – thus also creating new jobs.
- It will help reduce the vast mountain of electrical waste (e-waste) that piles up each year on the continent and boost business for small repair shops, which are an important part of local economies.
- It will save consumers’ money and contribute to circular economy objectives by improving the life span, maintenance, re-use, upgrade, recyclability, and waste handling of appliances.