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Apple has been participating in a controversial process of part pairing for a long time that requires specific iPhone parts to be paired with devices in order to function properly, but this will no longer be an option in an American state starting next year.
Part pairing has proven to be problematic on multiple levels, particularly because independent repair shops have struggled to offer the services and competitive prices their customers need due to Apple’s restrictions on the parts that can be used. Right to repair advocates have long pointed to the issue as an example of Apple’s attempt to bankrupt these repair shops, and it is now a process that will be illegal in Oregon starting in 2025.
The news comes after Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed a right to repair law, which means manufacturers must offer more repair options, going beyond what any other state has done so far. Similar to existing laws elsewhere, this one will require manufacturers to offer individuals and repair shops the same parts and tools they already provide to their partners and repair teams. But Oregon’s law goes further by preventing systems that require parts to be verified through software checks, like Apple’s part pairing process.
Starting in 2025
« By removing manufacturers’ restrictions, the right to repair will allow Oregon residents to more easily operate their personal electronic devices, » said Charlie Fisher, director of the Oregon Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), in a statement spotted by ArsTechnica. This will preserve valuable natural resources and prevent waste. It’s a refreshing alternative to a ‘disposable’ system that considers everything disposable.
As expected, Apple has already stated its opposition to the law, with the company sending a senior design executive to testify at a hearing on the law last month. John Perry argued that banning part pairing « would compromise the safety, security, and privacy of Oregonians by requiring device manufacturers to allow the use of unknown origin parts in consumer devices. »
Apple already offers individuals the option to repair their devices at home through its Self Service Repair program, providing official parts and loaning the necessary tools to perform repairs. But this change would eliminate the need for people to do the work themselves and allow third-party repair shops to reuse parts from broken devices or potentially use aftermarket alternatives.
Apple’s part pairing has surfaced in several ways in recent years. The iPhone 13 prevented Face ID from working when an unauthorized screen was installed, for example, while other iPhones also did similar things. However, Apple’s position was that the process ensured that Face ID could not be bypassed to allow an unverified person access to an iPhone.
Apple now has until next year to change its way of handling iPhone and other device repairs in the state. Ars notes that « there are exclusions for certain types of electronic devices and machinery, including gaming consoles, medical devices, HVAC systems, motor vehicles, and, as in other states, ‘electric toothbrushes’. »
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