Apple recently announced the company’s Independent Repair Provider Program is now open to repair firms in Europe and Canada. | Kevin Khoo/Shutterstock
Apple this month described the growth of a program that provides some official repair resources to certain repair shops. The initiative is separate from the company’s authorized repair service.
European trends suggest that end consumers are becoming more open to buying used electronics. | MaxFrost/Shutterstock
With OEMs struggling to produce and ship new electronics during coronavirus-triggered shutdowns, a new willingness to buy refurbished devices has sprouted in Europe, according to Deutsche Welle.
Global e-scrap and ITAD firm TES operates 38 facilities in more than 20 countries. | Koy_Hipster/Shutterstock
Singapore-headquartered ITAD provider TES is adding a third U.S. processing facility as it seeks to grow its worldwide reach.
The Coalition for American Electronics Recycling is calling for a change to Executive Order 12999, which directs federal agencies to distribute retired assets to nonprofit organizations for refurbishment and distribution to schools. | Fedor Sidorov/Shutterstock
A coalition of electronics recycling companies wants to see change in a government rule that prevents federal agencies from distributing surplus IT equipment to for-profit processors.
Medical device manufacturer Steris sent a letter to iFixit demanding repair manuals be removed from the firm’s website. | mtkang/Shutterstock
Repair support organization iFixit has received a threatening letter from a medical device manufacturer, which is alleging copyright infringement.
Microsoft on June 4 sent an email to companies participating in its Registered Refurbisher Program notifying them the program will end later this year. | mardon 333/Shutterstock
Over 1,700 North American computer refurbishers will be affected when Microsoft consolidates its refurbisher programs this year. The tech giant pledged to continue providing software licenses to them, but questions about cost remain.
Apple recently won its appeal in a case centered on a repair company’s use of mobile screens that Apple claimed were counterfeit parts. | Vytautas Kielaitis/Shutterstock
Norway’s top court ruled against an independent smartphone repair firm this week, saying the company violated trademark rules by using non-Apple-approved components. It ends a legal saga that repair advocates across the globe have been watching closely.
Leaders with S3 Recycling Solutions said the company was fortunate to have strong cash flow during business slowdowns in April and May. | jannoon028/Shutterstock
Tennessee processor S3 Recycling Solutions is in a period of growth and development, and the company foresees opportunity coming out of the market chaos around COVID-19.
The Open Markets Institute recently called on the federal government to ensure consumers have the parts, tools, information and software necessary to repair their products. | Diana Memetova/Shutterstock
A Washington, D.C.-based think tank has joined stakeholders calling for regulators to use antitrust powers to bolster the independent electronics repair industry.
