Google is changing a controversial policy that most didn’t even realize existed. First spotted by right-to-repair activist Louis Rossman, the policy gave Google the authority to not return any device sent to them for repair if it contained third-party parts. The official wording contained within the Google Store’s “Service & Repair Program Terms & Conditions” reads: “Unauthorized Parts: You will not send in a Device containing non-Google-authorized parts – if You do, Your Device will not be returned to you.”
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A shocked Rossman delved into the policy in a video titled “Google follows Samsung, asserts the right to steal your phone during a repair,” alluding to Samsung’s recent falling out with the right-to-repair community. The good news, however, is that it looks like Google is attempting to make a 180 on the policy to avoid any PR difficulties. Ars Technica reached out to Google once Rossman’s video made the rounds, with a Google spokesperson replying:
“If a customer sends their Pixel to Google for repair, we would not keep it regardless of whether it has non-OEM parts or not. In certain situations, we won’t be able to complete a repair if there are safety concerns. In that case, we will either send it back to the customer or work with them to determine next steps. Customers are also free to seek the repair options that work best for them. We are updating our Terms and Conditions to clarify this.”
As of yet, the terms and conditions page of the Google Store doesn’t reflect this change, but hopefully this is a step in the right direction.
