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Is Microsoft Quietly Lobbying Against Right-To-Repair Legislation? (mspoweruser.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the background-processes dept.

Microsoft "has been quietly lobbying against Right to Repair legislation, which would prevent Microsoft from penalizing customers when they open up their devices," claims MSPoweruser: Jeff Morris, Democratic member of the [Washington state] House of Representatives claims Microsoft has blocked legislation from being passed despite strong bipartisan support. In an interview on iFixit's Repair Radio [YouTube], Rep. Jeff Morris said that "word on the street" was that Microsoft, "marshalled forces to keep the bill from moving out of the House Rules committee." He claimed "there was a tax proposal here ... to pay for STEM education," and that "in exchange for Microsoft support[ing that tax,] having Right to Repair die..." was a condition, as well as another privacy policy Microsoft wanted to advance.
The state representative hedged that "I can't confirm or deny this, because I have not seen a smoking gun."

But he also told his interviewer that to paint a discouraging picture of the landscape after passage of the bill, "Microsoft was going around telling our members that they wouldn't sell Surface Tablets in Washington any longer."

18 of 45 comments (clear)

  1. Wrong definition by omnichad · · Score: 4, Informative

    which would prevent Microsoft from penalizing customers when they open up their devices

    That's not right to repair. That's settled case law under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Right to repair is about availability of parts and documentation.

    1. Re:Wrong definition by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Exactly! And BTW M$ not selling its junk Surface "tablets" in Washington anymore is not a penalty, its a BONUS!!

  2. No, of course not by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The company that brought us the BSA and their reign of terror would NEVER stoop so low as to prevent consumers from doing whatever they want with the property they paid for.

    1. Re:No, of course not by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      yeah, well, the girlscouts aren't all that much better. ...except for those cookies. but that goes without saying.

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    2. Re:No, of course not by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      The company that makes laptops out of glue? Nah, they would never do this.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    3. Re:No, of course not by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      I had a cousin who was kicked out of the Boy Scouts for simply eating a few brownies.

      (Perhaps they were infused)

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      This space unintentionally left blank.
    4. Re:No, of course not by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      Typical AC, just have to ruin a perfectly good double punchline.

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      This space unintentionally left blank.
    5. Re:No, of course not by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      Just remember, "If you're looking for adventure of a new and different kind; and you come across a Girl Scout who is similarly inclined, don't be nervous don't be flustered, don't be scared. Be prepared."

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  3. Microsoft is ABUSIVE? Or just terribly managed? by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 2

    BSA

    Links to articles that show Microsoft's VERY poor management.

  4. Not much of a threat. by Pezbian · · Score: 2

    "I'm going to take my ball and go home!" is only a threat if the ball isn't flat and somehow infected with herpes.

    --
    In a world of the blind, the one-eyed man is king--and the two-eyed man is a heretic.
  5. Microsoft's ELLA by QuietLagoon · · Score: 1
    (End Legislator Lobbying Agreement) - By continuing to accept our money, you will enact the bills we have paid you to enact.

    .
    I wonder how far off-base the above is?

    1. Re:Microsoft's ELLA by DCFusor · · Score: 1

      Yeah, it's only quiet if you're not a legislator...

      --
      Why guess when you can know? Measure!
  6. Only in Washington? by Registered+Coward+v2 · · Score: 1
    "Microsoft was going around telling our members that they wouldn't sell Surface Tablets in Washington any longer."

    And there was great rejoicing in Washington and much sadness elsewhere

    --
    I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
  7. Not much of a threat.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    "Microsoft was going around telling our members that they wouldn't sell Surface Tablets in Washington any longer."

    Next you know, they will threaten to stop selling Zunes.

  8. bugs? by guygo · · Score: 1

    What would that mean for outside bug hunters and any bug-bounties MS has on its software? Isn't debugging Windows an attempt to repair it?

  9. But . . . How will I repair my Zune? by phrackthat · · Score: 1

    Starlord will be mighty disappointed once he's unsnapped.

  10. Xbox by tepples · · Score: 2

    Why would anyone buy anything from Microsoft, let alone a tablet? Who will this affect, their one customer?

    Millions of Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One video game consoles have been sold to people who prefer the convenience of letting Redmond manage their home entertainment experience.

  11. Re:Microsoft builds hardware? That anyone buys? by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    You get sunlight down there?

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."