This is the best summary I could come up with:
Because California is one of the world’s largest economies, this bill may make it easier for people all over the US to repair their devices.
The law, which joins similar efforts in New York, Colorado, and Minnesota, is tougher than some of its predecessors.
Manufacturers must make available appropriate tools, parts, software, and documentation for seven years after production for devices priced above $100.
California is home to a number of device makers, most notably Apple, which came out in support of the bill after initially trying to stall it.
For instance, Google, also headquartered in California, recently confirmed that the Pixel 8 series will get seven years of spare parts — the same number the California bill mandates.
Though the bill is fairly sweeping, there are carve-outs for game consoles and alarm systems.
The original article contains 207 words, the summary contains 133 words. Saved 36%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
Because California is one of the world’s largest economies
Is that for real? I know it is the largest in the States, but in the world?
ETA:
California’s GDP in 2022 was $3.6T, representing 14.3% of the total U.S. economy. If California were a country, it would be the 5th largest economy in the world, and more productive than India and the United Kingdom.
If California were a sovereign nation (2022), it would rank in terms of nominal GDP as the world’s fifth largest economy, behind Germany and ahead of India.
Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_California
https://www.statista.com/chart/6780/only-5-countries-have-a-bigger-gdp-than-california/
It’s gdp is more that france
Is there anything in the Act that requires the cost of those tools and parts to be reasonable? Yes: “on fair and reasonable terms.”
Is there anything that allows third parties to manufacture aftermarket tools and parts? I don’t see anything in the Act that specifies that.
(4) “Fair and reasonable terms” means each of the following, as applicable:
(A) At costs and terms that are equivalent to the most favorable costs and terms under which the manufacturer offers the part, tool, or documentation to an authorized repair provider, accounting for any discount, rebate, convenient and timely means of delivery, means of enabling fully restored and updated functionality, rights of use, or other incentive or preference the manufacturer offers to an authorized repair provider.
(B) For documentation, including any relevant updates, that the documentation is made available at no charge, except that, when the documentation is requested in physical printed form, a charge may be included for the reasonable actual costs of preparing and sending the copy.
© For tools, that the tools are made available by the manufacturer at no charge and without imposing impediments to access or use of the tools to diagnose, maintain, or repair and enable full functionality of the product, or in a manner that impairs the efficient and cost-effective performance of any such diagnosis, maintenance, or repair, except that, when a tool is requested in physical form, a charge may be included for the reasonable, actual costs of preparing and sending the tool.
(D) If a manufacturer does not use an authorized repair provider, “fair and reasonable terms” means at a price that reflects the actual cost to the manufacturer to prepare and deliver the part, tool, or documentation, exclusive of any research and development costs incurred.
Afaik consoles are still exempt, so only a partial victory.
I would bet this is a reason why Apple supported this bill. I bet the iPhone is now classified as a console.
Cell phones are specifically excluded from the definition of “video game console,” being instead defined as “general or … all-purpose computer[s]”.
(3) (A) “Electronic or appliance product” or “product” means a product, manufactured for the first time, and first sold or used in California, on or after July 1, 2021, described in subdivision (h), (i), (j), or (k) of Section 9801 of the Business and Professions Code for which the manufacturer makes available tools, parts, and documentation to authorized repair providers, and includes products described in those subdivisions that are sold to schools, businesses, local governments, or in other methods outside of direct retail sale.
(B) “Electronic or appliance product” or “product” does not include any of the following:
(iii) A video game console.
(9) “Video game console” means a computing device, including its components and peripherals, that is primarily used by consumers for playing video games, such as a console machine, a handheld console device, or another device or system. “Video game console” does not include a general or an all-purpose computer, which includes, but is not limited to, a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or cell phone.
How long until the Louis Rossmann video that tells us it’s all rubbish?
Apparently it’s already pretty lacking in that it doesn’t give provisions for 3rd party manufactured parts. However I’m not sure if he’ll actually do a video for this one, he did one for New York (where he lives) and covered this point already.
He has a video on when it passed in the assembly.
The only thing he would likely have a problem with it is there is no provision allowing independent 3rd party repairers to use aftermarket parts. This is likely the reason why Apple supported the bill. Apple can continue to charge an arm and a leg for any parts and not supply parts to independent 3rd parties
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
https://piped.video/NfhFBSraDSM
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I’m open-source; check me out at GitHub.
If Apple supports any “right to repair” bill, it’s probably not entirely what you want.
“Though there’s a carve-out for games consoles” 🙄
Good on them for the rest of it, though, assuming it isn’t total rubbish.
I think consoles are exempt out of concern for piracy. Mod chips are cheap, but risky to install, and generally void your warranty, so replacement is out of the question. But if they’re forced to supply parts, you can easily replace a dead motherboard or other damaged part in case of a failed install. Not that you can’t do it otherwise, but it’s typically pretty difficult to get the parts required.
Modern consoles generally can’t be modchipped at all… The switch is an exception. And a donor board can be pulled from another console.
Modchips are also useful for freeing the hardware and running whatever code you like on it, not just free gamez.
I see where you’re coming from, but it doesn’t track.
