[HN Gopher] Gov. Polis Signs Bill Mandating That Consumers Have ...
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Gov. Polis Signs Bill Mandating That Consumers Have Options to Fix
Electronics
Author : rmason
Score : 69 points
Date : 2024-05-29 20:17 UTC (2 hours ago)
(HTM) web link (coloradotimesrecorder.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (coloradotimesrecorder.com)
| Multicomp wrote:
| I was wondering if this would be carved up with exceptions, but
| it's actually rather strong comparable to what state laws we have
| had so far per [1]
|
| > Like the repair rules passed in Minnesota last year, Colorado's
| law notably covers data center and business-to-business
| equipment, only without Minnesota's vague exclusion for "critical
| infrastructure" equipment.
|
| > There are some exclusions, like game consoles (due to lobbying
| from game console manufacturers over piracy concerns), medical
| devices, ATVs, and motor vehicles, which are also typical for
| repair rules introduced in other states like California and New
| York. Like Oregon's right-to-repair law, Colorado's HB24-1121
| explicitly prohibits electronics manufacturers from using "parts
| pairing" to prevent replacement components from working unless
| approved by company software.
|
| [1] https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/29/24166894/colorado-
| right-t...
| bberenberg wrote:
| So what does this mean for Apple devices? They will have to
| back away from pairing? If yes, then it should work everywhere?
| Or will they agree to pay whatever fines in CO to avoid
| changing this elsewhere? Is there another option I should be
| thinking about?
| j-bos wrote:
| What's the reasoning for excluding motor vehicles when
| aftermarket mods have always been a staple of car culture?
| teuobk wrote:
| While well-intentioned, I wonder if this will lead to something
| like the "sesame" debacle[1], in which is becomes far cheaper and
| easier for companies to deliberately design digital devices so as
| to be absolutely unrepairable -- even by the manufacturers
| themselves -- rather than provide parts and instructions for 3rd
| parties to effect repairs.
|
| [1] https://reason.com/2022/12/23/why-is-sesame-suddenly-in-
| ever...
| runlevel1 wrote:
| There's always some risk of a cobra effect. However, I'd rather
| we try something reasonable and have to reverse it than to not
| try anything at all.
| runlevel1 wrote:
| Text of the law and votes here:
| https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1121
|
| Direct link to the text as signed (pdf):
| https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2024a_1121_sign...
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(page generated 2024-05-29 23:00 UTC)