The Use of Compatible Supplies Cannot Void Your Manufacturer Warranty

MAGNUSON-MOSS

Warranty Improvement Act
United States Code Annotated
Title 15 Commerce and Trade
Chapter 50 Consumer Product Warranties 15 Section 2302
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/warranty.htm

(c) No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer’s using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection may be waived by the Commission if:

1. The warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product, and

2. The Commission finds that such a waiver is in the public interest.

How This Affects You!
The use of compatible products does not void your warranty. The manufacturer you are using cannot void the warranty because you use a replacement part manufactured by someone other than the manufacturer.

U.S. law also prohibits the manufacturers of your equipment from requiring the use of OEM replacements if you use products other than OEM products with their equipment. Those requirements and/or fees are in violation of existing anti-trust acts:

The Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts
(see also: Supreme Court decision: IBM vs. The United States 1936)
http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/public/div_stats/1638.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/warranty.htm
IBM vs. The United States
(The Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Law)

The Supreme Court (IBM vs. The United States) held that IBM could not threaten customers with termination of their data processing equipment leases just because they did not use supplies manufactured by IBM. Such practice constituted a tying agreement and was found to be in violation of the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Law.

How This Affects You!
Free choice of vendor allows for competition and keeps prices affordable. Your manufacturers are aware of lower priced supplies. Threatening to void warranties and add additional service call charges for use of compatible parts are their way of trying to limit competition. Save this information to protect yourself against these illegal actions. We are committed to providing the best products and while protecting intellectual property.