Profile of PodSwap, a startup offering a battery replacement service for Apple’s AirPods, and a great example of why we need right-to-repair legislation (Profile Podswap Airpodsleswingcnbc)

Profile Podswap Airpodsleswingcnbc: This article will discuss PodSwap, a startup offering a battery replacement service for Apple’s AirPods, and a great example of why we need right-to-repair legislation.

The author will explain why the company has had success operating in this market. They’ll also point to the potential pitfalls that could befall companies like theirs if no legislation is passed, including being forced to rely on third-party distributors and undercutting charging costs for customers who purchase replacement batteries from them.

Stuart Smith, the founder of PodSwap, spoke with TechCrunch and explained the company’s motivation to offer a battery replacement service for Apple’s AirPods. He said that since Apple has not provided an official opening for third-party vendors to step in and sell replacement batteries, he had no other choice but to open his own store.

“We think that this market is ripe for someone to step in, and we are hoping to be the first ones… We are not interested in going directly against Apple,” he said.

He also aimed to address some of the concerns his competitors have raised regarding their desire to undercut customers’ purchase costs. PodSwap’s lowest-priced battery replacement service will be $39, with PodSwap’s higher-priced option costing $79.

This isn’t the first time Apple’s faced legal action surrounding the accessibility of their products. The company was sued by a blind California man in February for not being able to repair his own iPhone due to Apple’s design. The U.S. Department of Justice supported Apple’s claim that building iPhones and other mobile devices with opening tools is a security risk, as it could allow for hackers to get around their encryption technology.

In response to the lawsuit, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced the Right to Repair Act in June. The bill would require federal agencies and manufacturers to publish repair guidelines and make repair parts available for their electronic devices.

While PodSwap is a great example of why we need right-to-repair legislation, the company’s success could be undone by a single company taking action against them. Apple does have the power to sue PodSwap for copyright infringement since the company is essentially redistributing and modifying parts of their product.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment by the time this was published.