Google Endorses Right to Repair

Amid controversial industry topics, the right to repair has been one of the most influential and is now receiving support from tech giants after years of being lobbied against by the same organizations. 

Last year, Apple announced support for the right to repair, and recently, Google followed suit, announcing plans to testify in favor of a strong repair bill in Oregon. According to Google, the company believes regulators should ban parts pairing, a strategy used by Apple, John Deere, and other major OEMs that enables them to restrict which parts can be used to repair a given device. 

“Google believes that users should have more control over repair—including access to the same documentation, parts, and tools that original equipment manufacturer (OEM) repair channels have—which is often referred to as ‘Right to Repair,’” Google’s Steven Nickel wrote in a white paper. 

Right-to-repair bills allow consumers to repair their devices or take them to third-party repair shops by providing repair shops with the necessary information, parts, and tools to repair the manufacturer’s products. In the past, Apple has been notorious for withholding the information needed for repair shops to fix electronics, leading many consumers to attempt to repair devices themselves. 

Most electronics today, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smartwatches, are made with lithium-ion batteries, known to cause chemical fires when damaged. Due to changes in design over the years, it is becoming increasingly difficult for consumers to repair their own devices without damaging something in the process, but it’s also becoming more dangerous. The right-to-repair movement helps prevent battery fires in homes by enabling repair shops to acquire the necessary materials for device repair. 

Repairing electronics for reuse also helps prolong the device’s lifespan and helps protect the environment by keeping retired electronics out of landfills. Device reuse maximizes the value of old electronics while providing a cost-effective alternative to purchasing new devices. 

Device reuse is an essential part of the IT asset disposition process. ITAD facilities such as HOBI focus on maximum value for our clients and the best action for the environment. As an R2v3, RIOS, and ISO-14001 certified IT asset management and disposition enterprise with more than 30 years of industry experience, HOBI offers repair, refurbishment services, and remarketing opportunities for used devices. 

For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.