Google today issued an open letter expressing support for Oregon’s pending right to repair legislation. The memo, authored by Devices and Services Operations Director Steven Nickell, calls the proposal “an exciting model for other states to follow.”
Google also used the opportunity to issue a white paper aimed at connecting repair claims with its broader sustainability goals. The document also, of course, gives the company a chance to talk about existing device longevity promises, including the seven years of software support the company is promising for its flagship Pixel devices.
Right to Drive Repair has gained tremendous traction over the last several years. In October, California became the third state to pass a right-to-repair bill — following New York and Minnesota. To the surprise of many, it was a move supported by Apple. At the time, at least 10 other states had their own versions in the works.
The new bill’s sponsor, Sen. Janeen Sollman, sharply criticized Apple’s apparent efforts to limit the scope of Oregon’s proposal. After meeting with the company at their offices in California, the lawmaker relayed the following comment in the New York Times, “I said,[Apple is] making it more affordable, but it’s not a true right to repair if you’re in total control.”
Specifically, the state legislature singled out Apple’s reliance on proprietary parts. We’ve reached out to Apple and Senator Sollman for comment.
In November, The Times noted:
New batteries can trigger warning messages, replacement screens can disable a phone’s brightness settings, and replacement selfie cameras can malfunction. The crashes are a result of Apple’s practice of writing software that gives it control over iPhones even after someone has bought one. Unlike cars, which can be repaired with generic parts from auto shops and mechanics, new iPhones are coded to recognize serial numbers for original parts and may malfunction if parts are changed.
The paper cites iFixit reports, noting that about seven different components can trigger Apple’s warning system during repair. That’s up four from 2017, according to the report. Apple cited both security and consumer ease of use as reasons for its reliance on OEM parts. Companies like Google and Samsung, meanwhile, have partnered directly with third-party solutions like iFixit, including its own home repair option for Pixel devices.
Google’s language is primarily focused on customer access. “The repair should be easy enough for anyone, whether a technician or do-it-yourselfer,” writes Nickel. “This requires us as manufacturers to design products in a way that enables simple, safe and correct repairs wherever and by whomever they are made. This is what we call design for functionality.”
This morning’s news comes shortly after Google confirmed layoffs and restructuring affecting its Pixel, Nest and Fitbit lines.
