( GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / SCOTT OLSON )
The Halte à l’obsolescence association accuses the electronics giant of limiting the possibilities of repairing its devices by non-approved repairers.
A complaint was filed against Apple on Wednesday, December 7, against the so-called “serialization” practice employed by the company.
This method consists of “associating the serial numbers of the components and peripherals of a product with that of the iPhone, in particular via microchips”, explains the French association Halte à l’obsolescence programmed (HOP), which is source of the complaint.
In
his press release
the organization also mentions that the parts most frequently subject to breakdowns – screens, batteries, cameras – are the most affected by this practice.
HOP reports that it documented in its “nearly sixty-page” complaint “numerous cases” in which malfunctions were found after the repair of a part “even identical and original” but “not authorized by Apple software” .
Apple seeks to “disadvantage independent repair”, according to the complainant association
These malfunctions can also occur after an update, such as the recent case of a repaired touchscreen on an iPhone XR that was rendered unusable after the iOS 16 update.
A simple return to the iOS15 version is enough to resolve this breakdown, but Apple refuses to do so, preferring to incriminate a “non-original Apple screen which causes a touch problem”, details the association in its press release.
Stop at
planned obsolescence
castigates these repeated malfunctions, which would not be simple bugs, but maneuvers seeking to disadvantage independent repair or reconditioning, “in favor of the sale of new smartphones or captive repair, at prices often dissuasive for the consumer” , hammers the association.
This complaint is filed the day after the opening to French individuals of a first catalog of Apple spare parts, intended for iPhones and Macbooks.
Apple already condemned in 2020 because of their batteries
This opening itself comes almost three years after the vote on the anti-waste law for a circular economy, which made it mandatory for manufacturers to make certain parts available.
Contacted on Wednesday, Apple did not immediately respond to requests from AFP.
In 2020, the Stopping Planned Obsolescence association had already obtained in 2020 the condemnation of Apple to a fine of 25 million euros for lack of information in the so-called battery case.
As early as 2017, the electronics giant had already admitted to voluntarily restricting the performance of their smartphones after a certain time, with the aim of “extending the lifespan” of it.