What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments! If you liked the video, please consider subscribing. It's the easiest way you can help grow this channel: www.youtube.com/@PigeonsSoapbox?sub_confirmation=1
Thank you for telling these stories. Honest working people and companies should never have to fight or suffer for what is right. Apple has displayed some disgusting behaviour that reveals their greed and sickness.
I notice that you didn't cover this in your video. Apple is putting chips in all their parts that have a serial number in them. They then program the main processor to only accept the parts/peripheral that have those serial numbers on them. That means that if you try to replace screen/battery on your iPhone. Even if the part is a genuine apple part. It won't work because the serial number on the chip don't match.
Hi! You're totally right, Apple is a pioneer in using this "parts pairing" technology. In this video, I only wanted to focus on how Apple takes legal action against independent repairmen. I'm planning to work on a longer video with all their techniques to fight against repair.
Microsoft is the same, they have no repair policy, I had an issue in which my surface computer didn't turn on, their service for that case was "pay 750$ send yours in and we will send you a refurbished computer" they didn't even have an option to have a technician look at it. Luckily I didn't do that and it just turned on magically, it was an error during windows update.
Thanks! I'm actually considering making a longer video about this - this video focuses on Apple's legal actions against independent repairmen, but I might do a longer one about Apple's full strategy against repair, e.g. lobbying actions, agreements with other big tech companies, etc.
@@PigeonsSoapbox that's a good idea. I think you offer great pace and everything about your video seemed well rounded. I think I would enjoy watching a longer version and if it included a conclusion which talks about how other companies are doing in this regard it would be very interesting, along with the laws that are being brought in to combat these companies
And this goes beyond just repair, something not even Rossman talked about, once apple device is marked in their database as managed device you cannot install an os without it requiring the remote login before it lets you use it. Even tho those logins no longer exist. This is ruining tons of appple products that were maneged in a company and the staff forgot or just ignored turning off the managed device flag before selling them off. And this is unfixable. If it wasnt perfectly functional it requires an os reinstall just to find out it is a managed device.
iPhones that have been repaired by independent repairmen often have software problems due to "parts pairing". The device identifies that a new part is not "approved by Apple" and starts to malfunction.
The reason companies do not turn this off is that they are typicly paying the `recycling firm` to shred the device.. Why do they do this? Local laws with respect to data destruction are not written in a way that means doing a DFU nuke counts as a legal destruction of data even through you are resetting the root key (the laws all talk about physical destruction). If you're paying a company to shred your devices why would you then make it easier for them to break contract and sell them on the side?
It's difficult to understand how someone can blindly be a "fan" of a big company. We all need consumer goods, we all might have certain brand preferences, but blindly trusting a company seems unreasonable to me.
Its not like apple are doung it alone. Other brands aren't as large scale to have their own brand sepecialist independent repair shops. And consequently youtubr channels abput this.
The right to repair is just the tip of the iceberg of this matter. and this issue itself goes beyond this video. the question isn't just who has the rights to repair one's own device, but rather, how far must society tolerate the existence of mega monopolies, whose sole purpose is to control the entirety of the economy, eliminate the existence of competition and gain influence from governments alike. This question not only questions the existence of monopolies and its ethics. But the systems we entrust such as, Capitalism and democracy. All of which promotes the existence freedom and liberty. but fails us in social matters like these. Antitrust and fair competition laws have all but eroded from the face of many democracies such as the United States and other countries alike. There are few exceptions such as the EU which forced apple and other similar corporations to abide by antitrust and fair competition laws. as well as allowing consumers greater rights over their devices and privacy. But these examples are few and far between and are not perfect in practice. Governments like the United States find it too inconvenient to confront corporations and monopolies head on as it forces to confront their own contradictions about promoting capitalism and democracy and abiding by those principles. Politicians know, if they were to force corporations to disband then their own campaign and influence would at risk of being defunded and disbanded as well. People and small businesses like us, need to confront and hold those in power accountable and corporations alike. I know it's easier said than done, but these issues will not solve themselves unless we act!!
Hi Andres, thanks for such an interesting comment. I totally agree. In fact I wanted the conclusion of this video to be a reminder of this - the danger of monopolies. Some people say that we cannot or should not act against monopolies and large companies because of the free market, but forget that monopolies themselves are a critical threat to the free market and democracy. They can kill competition from smaller companies, influence the government, or disrupt the market with their actions. That's the opposite of a "free market" and a "government by the people"... All that being said, the EU and the United States are taking some initiative lately, but so far it feels too little too late. I might prepare a video about the topic in the future, but it would be a long & complex one so I will take my time. So far, I will work on a new video about how Apple has also used lobbying to destroy the right to repair movement.
There's nothing secret about it. They make it quite obvious by blocking their phones (and sometimes computers) from functioning properly if a part has been replaced. Regardless of whether that part is a genuine apple part or not. Requiring "calibration" tools that only Apple has access to in order to pair the new hardware so it will work properly. They don't even give authorized service providers access to those calibration tools, because the authorized service providers are only allowed to do the most basic repairs like battery replacements, often requiring the device to be sent in to Apple themselves for repair, which makes it take days/weeks when it could take hours.
Exactly! This video only covers Apple's legal actions against independent repairmen. I'm planning on preparing a longer video that also covers actions against repair through software malfunctions & lobbying.
The screens that were imported to Norway turned out that they were not re-furbished screens, they were counterfeits that had the apple logo on them. He did not know this when importuning them. If the factory in chine had said that they were not original and no put the apple logo on them there there would be notting illegal about them, customs would not have seized them and it would have all be ok. (Rossman did a few videos about this case) Why does apple care about this? The trademark and copy-write law means if you do not enforce a violation (someone silk screening your logo onto a part) then you loos the ability to enforce it later. If apple knew about screens being imported that had apple logos put onto them but did not take the importer to court then in the future someone else could use apples branding (for anything else) and reference the fact that apple did not defend thier trademark thus making the trademark null-and-void.
Hi! Thanks for sharing this information. I was actually not aware. I will research a bit more this topic and touch upon it if need be in the follow-up video that I'm planning. My overall feeling is that, in line with what you say, it's an issue of very restrictive trademark and copyright laws. However, we also have to take into account that these laws didn't come out of nowhere, they were advocated and lobbied by many big tech companies, including Apple. So we shouldn't fall either for a "don't hate the player hate the game" narrative. In any case, I will look more into it, thanks for sharing!
@@PigeonsSoapbox Copywrite laws (and trademark laws) all pre-date big tech by hundreds of years. There is a LOT of coutnfit goods being imported (from china), not just tech. Most customs officers will consider anything with a known brand trademark on it to be coutnerfit unless it is epxliclty being imported by a known trusted importer from a known trusted exporter. If your importing a small amount they are unlike to look into it but when your importing a large shipment and that value of that is high ($50+ a screen/battery) they will look into it. The correct thing to do in these situations is just to ensure that the brand label has not been added, the customs offers and the brands themselves cant stop you importing a battery or screen that works with an iPhone but they can (and will) stop you importing one that has apples logo on it unless you can provide paperwork that the customers officers believe (hint customs officers do not believe any paperwork from a factory in china, otherwise they would need to let every single fake Gucci handbag through after all...). If your importing screens/battreis etc at scale ask the vendor to remove any apple (or other) branding from the products. This avoids any issue you might have at the border.
The fact that trademark and copyright laws have existed for hundreds of years doesn't mean that there haven't been developments after the rise of big tech companies. The trademark laws of 1824, obviously, are not used nowadays. Apple and other big tech companies have influenced and steered these developments. In 2014, for instance, Apple joined up with other major companies to create a lobbying group that opposed patent reform legislation proposed by U.S. Congress. Very recently, Apple has stepped up lobbying efforts to change practices at the U.S. International Trade Commission due to losing a couple of patent cases. Huge companies like Apple do not simply passively adapt to trademark and copyright laws, they have a huge influence on it. In terms of counterfeit goods from China, I agree - it's quite a huge thing and it shouldn't be. However, I don't think this problem should be used to initiate campaigns against independent repairmen. Rossman also received complaints for importing refurbished goods. Willtech Becerra received Apple's complaints, among others, because the company said he was using Apple's branding in his workshop, which he denied. My point is not that copyright and trademarks laws should not exist. My point is that Apple has a huge influence on them & makes an abusive use of them. The fact that Apple has even tried to trademark depictions of actual apples (mashable.com/article/apple-logo-trademark-depictions-apples) is quite a clear indication of that.
what if I buy the "counterfeit" part and take delivery of it. Then bring the part to the repairman and pay for him to install it? Does that circumvent Apple's attacks? Another way to circumvent this is not to buy an apple.
It would circumvent it yes, the issue is that it's hard to find certain spare parts. And normally, you have to buy at least a bunch of them (e.g. minimum 20).
Harsh law enforcement should literally "order" these Apple monsters to obey rules. EU laws should really bring them to a hard test. Means creating reepairable devices. standardized. modular. Glueing should become forbidden in the future. The return of the screws.
@@PigeonsSoapbox They know, they just don't care. Apple users are just different beings. Not human. They are like the rich people in their locked up residential areas. They know it's shit in the real world. They just don't care.
Maybe it's different in the U.S. (?). I live in Europe and I know many people who are not rich at all, quite the opposite, who save money to buy Apple products. They are mostly not aware of the problems with Apple products.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!
If you liked the video, please consider subscribing. It's the easiest way you can help grow this channel: www.youtube.com/@PigeonsSoapbox?sub_confirmation=1
Thank you for putting in the effort to spread awareness about these unethical monsters.
Thank you so much for the kind words! I will keep working on similar stories underreported in the mainstream media.
Shoutout to Louis Rossman, probably the most vocal repair rights advocate there is. EDIT lol just as I hit enter to post he's appearing on screen :D
Haha of course! He had to appear in a video about the right to repair & Apple.
Thank you for telling these stories. Honest working people and companies should never have to fight or suffer for what is right.
Apple has displayed some disgusting behaviour that reveals their greed and sickness.
Thanks for the kind words! I agree, it's disgusting how such big companies take on independent repairmen.
@@PigeonsSoapbox And extra thanks to you for being here and doing good work. The world needs more people like you in it. Thank you!
That's very kind of you, thanks. I'm glad to hear that you see the value in it. I will continue to develop this channel and report on similar stories!
@@PigeonsSoapbox Please do.
I notice that you didn't cover this in your video. Apple is putting chips in all their parts that have a serial number in them. They then program the main processor to only accept the parts/peripheral that have those serial numbers on them. That means that if you try to replace screen/battery on your iPhone. Even if the part is a genuine apple part. It won't work because the serial number on the chip don't match.
Hi! You're totally right, Apple is a pioneer in using this "parts pairing" technology. In this video, I only wanted to focus on how Apple takes legal action against independent repairmen. I'm planning to work on a longer video with all their techniques to fight against repair.
Amazing video!
Glad you think so! Thanks for watching
Microsoft is the same, they have no repair policy, I had an issue in which my surface computer didn't turn on, their service for that case was "pay 750$ send yours in and we will send you a refurbished computer" they didn't even have an option to have a technician look at it. Luckily I didn't do that and it just turned on magically, it was an error during windows update.
Damn that's insane! Happy it worked in the end. I will do some research about Microsoft and make a video eventually.
It is ALL about the line going up.
Yep! But then they will start campaigns to say how much Apple cares about customer experience and sustainability.
Great video! Please include a fuller conclusion next time
Thanks! I'm actually considering making a longer video about this - this video focuses on Apple's legal actions against independent repairmen, but I might do a longer one about Apple's full strategy against repair, e.g. lobbying actions, agreements with other big tech companies, etc.
@@PigeonsSoapbox that's a good idea. I think you offer great pace and everything about your video seemed well rounded. I think I would enjoy watching a longer version and if it included a conclusion which talks about how other companies are doing in this regard it would be very interesting, along with the laws that are being brought in to combat these companies
Will do so! It will take some time since I already have several videos in the pipeline, but I will eventually make a longer video about this for sure.
I liked your video so much, thank you for the content.
Thanks for the kind words! Happy to hear that you liked it. Please consider subscribing for future videos :)
good video, it's too bad normal people don't care for this :(
Most people don't care but it's slowly improving! Now there are many RUclips channels about repair for instance.
And this goes beyond just repair, something not even Rossman talked about, once apple device is marked in their database as managed device you cannot install an os without it requiring the remote login before it lets you use it. Even tho those logins no longer exist. This is ruining tons of appple products that were maneged in a company and the staff forgot or just ignored turning off the managed device flag before selling them off. And this is unfixable. If it wasnt perfectly functional it requires an os reinstall just to find out it is a managed device.
iPhones that have been repaired by independent repairmen often have software problems due to "parts pairing". The device identifies that a new part is not "approved by Apple" and starts to malfunction.
The reason companies do not turn this off is that they are typicly paying the `recycling firm` to shred the device.. Why do they do this? Local laws with respect to data destruction are not written in a way that means doing a DFU nuke counts as a legal destruction of data even through you are resetting the root key (the laws all talk about physical destruction). If you're paying a company to shred your devices why would you then make it easier for them to break contract and sell them on the side?
The greatest threat to the interests of an apple user is an apple fanboy.
It's difficult to understand how someone can blindly be a "fan" of a big company. We all need consumer goods, we all might have certain brand preferences, but blindly trusting a company seems unreasonable to me.
It's not really a secret war
Fair point. However, most media outlets don't report on it enough.
Its not like apple are doung it alone. Other brands aren't as large scale to have their own brand sepecialist independent repair shops. And consequently youtubr channels abput this.
What 🤣 not sure if serious
Apple make a couple if items, the minority of phones, laptops etc
All other companies make everything else 🤦♂️
Many big companies are involved in similar actions, but there are some e.g. Lenovo or Fairphone which try to facilitate repair.
The right to repair is just the tip of the iceberg of this matter. and this issue itself goes beyond this video. the question isn't just who has the rights to repair one's own device, but rather, how far must society tolerate the existence of mega monopolies, whose sole purpose is to control the entirety of the economy, eliminate the existence of competition and gain influence from governments alike. This question not only questions the existence of monopolies and its ethics. But the systems we entrust such as, Capitalism and democracy. All of which promotes the existence freedom and liberty. but fails us in social matters like these.
Antitrust and fair competition laws have all but eroded from the face of many democracies such as the United States and other countries alike. There are few exceptions such as the EU which forced apple and other similar corporations to abide by antitrust and fair competition laws. as well as allowing consumers greater rights over their devices and privacy. But these examples are few and far between and are not perfect in practice.
Governments like the United States find it too inconvenient to confront corporations and monopolies head on as it forces to confront their own contradictions about promoting capitalism and democracy and abiding by those principles. Politicians know, if they were to force corporations to disband then their own campaign and influence would at risk of being defunded and disbanded as well.
People and small businesses like us, need to confront and hold those in power accountable and corporations alike. I know it's easier said than done, but these issues will not solve themselves unless we act!!
Hi Andres, thanks for such an interesting comment. I totally agree. In fact I wanted the conclusion of this video to be a reminder of this - the danger of monopolies.
Some people say that we cannot or should not act against monopolies and large companies because of the free market, but forget that monopolies themselves are a critical threat to the free market and democracy. They can kill competition from smaller companies, influence the government, or disrupt the market with their actions. That's the opposite of a "free market" and a "government by the people"...
All that being said, the EU and the United States are taking some initiative lately, but so far it feels too little too late. I might prepare a video about the topic in the future, but it would be a long & complex one so I will take my time. So far, I will work on a new video about how Apple has also used lobbying to destroy the right to repair movement.
There's nothing secret about it. They make it quite obvious by blocking their phones (and sometimes computers) from functioning properly if a part has been replaced. Regardless of whether that part is a genuine apple part or not. Requiring "calibration" tools that only Apple has access to in order to pair the new hardware so it will work properly. They don't even give authorized service providers access to those calibration tools, because the authorized service providers are only allowed to do the most basic repairs like battery replacements, often requiring the device to be sent in to Apple themselves for repair, which makes it take days/weeks when it could take hours.
Exactly! This video only covers Apple's legal actions against independent repairmen. I'm planning on preparing a longer video that also covers actions against repair through software malfunctions & lobbying.
Big Louis
He's quite a legend!
The screens that were imported to Norway turned out that they were not re-furbished screens, they were counterfeits that had the apple logo on them. He did not know this when importuning them. If the factory in chine had said that they were not original and no put the apple logo on them there there would be notting illegal about them, customs would not have seized them and it would have all be ok. (Rossman did a few videos about this case)
Why does apple care about this? The trademark and copy-write law means if you do not enforce a violation (someone silk screening your logo onto a part) then you loos the ability to enforce it later.
If apple knew about screens being imported that had apple logos put onto them but did not take the importer to court then in the future someone else could use apples branding (for anything else) and reference the fact that apple did not defend thier trademark thus making the trademark null-and-void.
Hi! Thanks for sharing this information. I was actually not aware. I will research a bit more this topic and touch upon it if need be in the follow-up video that I'm planning. My overall feeling is that, in line with what you say, it's an issue of very restrictive trademark and copyright laws. However, we also have to take into account that these laws didn't come out of nowhere, they were advocated and lobbied by many big tech companies, including Apple. So we shouldn't fall either for a "don't hate the player hate the game" narrative. In any case, I will look more into it, thanks for sharing!
@@PigeonsSoapbox Copywrite laws (and trademark laws) all pre-date big tech by hundreds of years.
There is a LOT of coutnfit goods being imported (from china), not just tech. Most customs officers will consider anything with a known brand trademark on it to be coutnerfit unless it is epxliclty being imported by a known trusted importer from a known trusted exporter.
If your importing a small amount they are unlike to look into it but when your importing a large shipment and that value of that is high ($50+ a screen/battery) they will look into it.
The correct thing to do in these situations is just to ensure that the brand label has not been added, the customs offers and the brands themselves cant stop you importing a battery or screen that works with an iPhone but they can (and will) stop you importing one that has apples logo on it unless you can provide paperwork that the customers officers believe (hint customs officers do not believe any paperwork from a factory in china, otherwise they would need to let every single fake Gucci handbag through after all...).
If your importing screens/battreis etc at scale ask the vendor to remove any apple (or other) branding from the products. This avoids any issue you might have at the border.
The fact that trademark and copyright laws have existed for hundreds of years doesn't mean that there haven't been developments after the rise of big tech companies. The trademark laws of 1824, obviously, are not used nowadays. Apple and other big tech companies have influenced and steered these developments. In 2014, for instance, Apple joined up with other major companies to create a lobbying group that opposed patent reform legislation proposed by U.S. Congress. Very recently, Apple has stepped up lobbying efforts to change practices at the U.S. International Trade Commission due to losing a couple of patent cases. Huge companies like Apple do not simply passively adapt to trademark and copyright laws, they have a huge influence on it.
In terms of counterfeit goods from China, I agree - it's quite a huge thing and it shouldn't be. However, I don't think this problem should be used to initiate campaigns against independent repairmen. Rossman also received complaints for importing refurbished goods. Willtech Becerra received Apple's complaints, among others, because the company said he was using Apple's branding in his workshop, which he denied. My point is not that copyright and trademarks laws should not exist. My point is that Apple has a huge influence on them & makes an abusive use of them. The fact that Apple has even tried to trademark depictions of actual apples (mashable.com/article/apple-logo-trademark-depictions-apples) is quite a clear indication of that.
this is the least secret war ever.
Fortunately the repairmen and some media & NGOs have been vocal about it, but I feel most media outlets don't report on this!
This is why I don't have apple products☠️
Me neither! I think most people don't think of repairability when it comes to buying new devices.
Simple solution:
Sell or dump all of your Apple devices...
Haha better sell rather than dump! Hopefully Apple will feel the pressure and change the approach over time.
@@PigeonsSoapbox prices are down on used Apple products...
what if I buy the "counterfeit" part and take delivery of it. Then bring the part to the repairman and pay for him to install it? Does that circumvent Apple's attacks? Another way to circumvent this is not to buy an apple.
It would circumvent it yes, the issue is that it's hard to find certain spare parts. And normally, you have to buy at least a bunch of them (e.g. minimum 20).
Harsh law enforcement should literally "order" these Apple monsters to obey rules. EU laws should really bring them to a hard test. Means creating reepairable devices. standardized. modular. Glueing should become forbidden in the future. The return of the screws.
Totally agree. The EU is slowly taking action, but so far too little too late. There should be minimum repairability standards ASAP.
Stop buying that crap. Problem (with repairs) solved.
That way they would for sure understand what people want!
This is why I use android 😑
Me too! Most android smartphones are easier to repair. There are some exceptions though, e.g. many Samsung models.
Secret? Are you kdding?
Only a minority of people actually knows about these moves.
@@PigeonsSoapbox They know, they just don't care. Apple users are just different beings. Not human. They are like the rich people in their locked up residential areas. They know it's shit in the real world. They just don't care.
Maybe it's different in the U.S. (?). I live in Europe and I know many people who are not rich at all, quite the opposite, who save money to buy Apple products. They are mostly not aware of the problems with Apple products.
@@PigeonsSoapbox ignorance does not protect one from punishment. And they know. They just don't care.
It's a secret? Since when?
They certainly try to hide this! And most media don't report on these actions.