What Display Daily thinks: When it comes to displays, if everyone takes Apple’s position then, whoever gets the initial business for Apple’s screens gets all of it, and the aftermarket for smartphone displays is not going to shrink. Especially as the phones themselves get bigger and more expensive. Of course, there is going to be a huge adjustment to be made to address foldables, the bezel-less display, and any number of variations.
The good news is that there is a direct path around the OEMs for display manufacturers. That’s invaluable for display manufacturers. You learn more from failure than success, it is said, and that couldn’t be any truer in the after market. The display industry should see this as an opportunity to build new distribution channels and to engage with end users in new ways that could deliver valuable information on how displays are being used, why they are failing, and how often.
California’s New Right-to-Repair Law Bolstered by Unexpected Support
California has officially become the third state in the US to ratify right-to-repair legislation following Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent endorsement. With the new law set to be activated in July 2024, electronics manufacturers will soon face a legal obligation to supply repair parts, tools, documentation, and software not just to authorized service providers but also to everyday consumers and third-party repair entities. Advocates of the legislation, such as iFixit, assert that this move promotes wider access to affordable and readily available repair services, breaking manufacturers’ longstanding repair dominion.
However, while the legislation offers expansive rights to repairs, it has specifically excluded certain products like game consoles and alarm systems. Devices like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, even though they resemble all-purpose computers in many respects, are not encompassed within this law. California is not alone in having amendments to these laws. In New York, for instance, advocates for independent repairs highlighted that late amendments introduced loopholes which could potentially exempt original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) from sharing vital information like security codes with the general public. These changes allowed OEMs to deliver sets or groups of parts instead of the precise components needed for specific repairs.
One particularly surprising development in the right-to-repair discourse is Apple’s endorsement of California’s legislation. The tech giant, once almost unanimously criticized by independent repair professionals for its perceived resistance to right-to-repair principles, showcased a notable shift in stance. Documents shared with CNBC revealed that Apple expressed its backing for the law, with the condition that repair entities declare any use of non-original or pre-used components. Apple’s rationale, as stated in their communication, is that the bill safeguards both users’ safety and product intellectual property. This endorsement can be contextualized with Apple’s recent decision in 2021, where they initiated a Self-Service Repair program, allowing customers to purchase essential repair tools and parts for their Apple devices, marking a considerable departure from their previous position on the matter.
