Connected consumer products.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not explicitly state that violations are considered unfair business practices, only that they constitute a deceptive act or practice under the UCL.

Rules for Connected Devices

The bill sets rules for companies making connected devices, requiring them to support these products for at least five years and notify users when they reach the end of their useful life.

What This Bill Does

• Requires manufacturers to tell customers how long they will support a device after it is sold.
• Sets a minimum support period of five years for all connected devices.
• Needs companies to inform owners and the public about when a product's support ends.
• For businesses that lease or provide connected devices to customers, requires them to keep these products updated and replace them with similar ones if needed at no extra cost to customers.
• Defines what a 'connected consumer product' is: any item for personal use that needs an internet connection.

Who It Names or Affects

• Manufacturers of connected devices sold in California
• Businesses leasing or providing connected devices to customers
• Customers buying, leasing, or using connected consumer products

Terms To Know

Connected Consumer Product

A device for personal use that needs an internet connection.

End of Life

The point when a manufacturer stops providing support or updates for a connected product.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify what happens if a comparable replacement is not available.
• Does not detail how manufacturers will inform customers about the end-of-life notice.
• Does not provide penalties for non-compliance with the new rules.

Official Summary Text

SB 898, as amended, Weber Pierson.
Connected consumer products.
The Unfair Competition Law (UCL) prohibits a person from engaging in unfair competition, including any unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business act or practice.
This bill would require a manufacturer of a connected consumer product sold at retail
in the state to clearly and prominently
to
establish and disclose to any prospective buyer of a connected consumer product a minimum guaranteed support timeframe, as prescribed, and would prohibit a manufacturer from reducing that timeframe. The bill would further require that a minimum guaranteed support timeframe be no less than 5 years, as specified. The bill would also require a manufacturer to provide a
notice of a connected consumer product’s end of life to the public and to any owner of the product, as specified.
This bill would require a business that owns or controls a connected consumer product that it leases or otherwise provides to its customers as part of a service to ensure that updates provided by the manufacturer for the connected consumer product are promptly received and applied and, when the connected consumer product has reached its end of life, replace the connected consumer product, at no additional cost to the customer, with a comparable product capable of receiving necessary updates and support if a comparable product is reasonably available to the business.
This bill would define “connected consumer product” to mean a physical product, as specified, that is intended for consumer use and depends, partly or in whole, on an internet connection. The bill would also define “end of life” to mean the point
after which the manufacturer no longer provides necessary support or updates for a connected consumer product.
This bill would specify that a violation of its provisions constitutes a deceptive act or practice under the UCL.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF