Parts pairing is the next right-to-repair fight
Serial-number checks now decide whether a genuine replacement part works. Repair shops say that is the whole game.
A screen or battery can be identical to the factory part and still be rejected by software. The justification is security and calibration.
Independent shops have started keeping donor boards specifically to move serial numbers, which is both wasteful and legally murky.
Legislation is catching up, but slowly. In the meantime, the practical repair window for many devices is shorter than the hardware's life.
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