US FTC report finds large companies’ anti-repair restrictions hurt small businesses and consumers

07 May 2021
The US agency is willing to do more to protect users’ right to repair and offers recommendations for how the US Government should proceed.

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Arod, 07 May 2021yeah if really cared for environment they wouldn't tak... moreyeah i agree with you its bullshit

    • f
    • famous freak
    • QW4
    • 08 May 2021

    yeah "Oddo" lock their firmware that can't be flashed without company secret password, so no one can flash it except "Oddo" service center

      • k
      • kek
      • GBh
      • 07 May 2021

      Watch how Apple is the first one signing to go against this. Bunch of hypocrites inside that company.

        • J
        • JustSomeRandomGuy
        • EwD
        • 07 May 2021

        I know the article is not just about smartphones, as stated, it ranges from phones to even farm machinery.

        However, the very first thing that popped in my head when I read the title was, "this is Apple's fault"
        yet Apple acts like they care for the environment by removing the charger in the box. again, Apple is not the only one guilty of this but they are the numero uno hypocrites when it comes to such acts. I really hope these pathetic greedy corporate behaviors gets ban

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • sUS
          • 07 May 2021

          Anonymous, 07 May 2021Even if the phones were easier to repair by third party, I ... moreGood for you, then. Some of us can go somewhere else if they do not monopolize repair to death.

            Kingslayer, 07 May 2021Apple hates small businesses even though they started out n... moreIts not just apple. Its all the big companies. Do you think Samsung is different? No they are not.
            They could have set an example by defying apple rather they simply followed.
            Huawei Xiaomi also same. They all like small companies till they become big themselves.

            I am not favoring apple. Android manufacturers didn't prove to be different. Apple just starts.

              • A
              • Arod
              • ri}
              • 07 May 2021

              i0S.- Never.- Again, 07 May 2021And then they pretend to care for about environment. If th... moreyeah if really cared for environment they wouldn't take away the chargers and headphones if they just make space inside the box (ever heard of the mini anker 18 watt charger the size of the 5 watt brick)
              also how is "environmental friendly" tactic removing these items in the box if u need to buy them separately (which waste more money) and buying separately result of MORE plastic and cardboard and paper(also the shipping packaging, which is more cardboard), which is
              WORSE then the included items in the box before (2019)
              youtube channel mrwhoistheboss also talked about and i completely agree

                Apple hates small businesses even though they started out n a garage.

                  YUKI93, 07 May 2021This is why I want to see Fairphone getting global traction... moreThey are somewhat pricey for what they offer but you're right, what they stand for is very vocal and admirable. I'd say more 780 would be plenty but they need to have more LTE/5G bands. You can only use those phones in Europe.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • pN4
                    • 07 May 2021

                    Anonymous, 07 May 2021It's weird how people blame apple when other companies... moreApple is the largest and has the most influence. Of course we are going to blame Apple first because they influence other companies.

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                      • Anonymous
                      • 7kk
                      • 07 May 2021

                      Not to mention the stupidity of not upholding warranty in case of "water-damage" even if they boast IP68 certification.

                        • W
                        • Woohoo
                        • 7kk
                        • 07 May 2021

                        We should stand behind iFixit & people like Louis R, LTT, etc & also appreciate countries like Spain who force OEMs to give additional years for warranty (3 yrs iirc)

                          • F
                          • FarFan
                          • p%g
                          • 07 May 2021

                          They can't force Apple to standartize charging port and they want us to believe, they will allow third parties to repair them? LOL.
                          Soon Apple\Samsung\etc will make another transaction to forget about their findings

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • 7kk
                            • 07 May 2021

                            Anonymous, 07 May 2021And this is pretty much all Apple's fault. Remove feat... moreThey never had an expansion slot in the fist place, so how would they remove it, basically anti-consumer from the beginning.

                              Anonymous, 07 May 2021Apple is the culprit. Before Apple, there was Nokia smartph... moreAnd then they pretend to care for about environment.
                              If they really cared about environment, they wouldn't make iPhones harder to repair

                                • W
                                • Woohoo
                                • 7kk
                                • 07 May 2021

                                Hope they don't just sit on these findings, but rather ACT!!

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • StU
                                  • 07 May 2021

                                  It's weird how people blame apple when other companies follow their suit, no one makes the other companies follow what apple does...if they made those decisions then they made them themselves.

                                  even if apple didn't make these stupid moves first, and it was another company but then apple followed suit, people would still blame apple.

                                  no company, not even fair phone could survive if no one bought new devices every again and just repaired their current phone.
                                  And look how many people even of GSMarena say they buy cheaper phones and just get a new one every year.
                                  How wasteful is that ? yet don't tell me, it's apples fault too.

                                  yeah the company is money / profit orientated, but which company isn't ?

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 3j4
                                    • 07 May 2021

                                    Barry Egan, 07 May 2021blame apple Apple is the culprit. Before Apple, there was Nokia smartphones. Repair scores were not generalized back then, but it would be hard for me to believe that Nokia smartphones would have less than 9/10 on repairability... Then Apple came.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • StU
                                      • 07 May 2021

                                      Even if the phones were easier to repair by third party, I would still go to a authorised official branded repair / service centre

                                        blame apple