Using Remanufactured Cartidges Should not Void a Printer's Warranty. FTC Investigates.

For years, the cartridge aftermarket has tried to compete with the OEM dealer practice of claiming that the use of aftermarket cartridges will void a printer's warranty. This practice is prohibited by the Magnuson-Moss Act, and yet it remains pervasive in the marketplace.

Recently, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission invited the automotive aftermarket to make suggestions as it reviews the Act. A group of automotive aftermarket associations, the Uniform Standards in Automotive Products Coalition (the "Coalition"), provided the FTC with simple suggestions that would make it harder for these tying arrangements to continue - either directly or indirectly. The Coalition contacted the Int'l ITC and asked it to sign on to the Coalition's suggestions and provide supporting documentation, all near the end of the comment period.

Int'l ITC Executive Director Tricia Judge prepared an extensive commentary in support of the revisions that would include two simple clarifications: amend Section 700.10(c) of Interpretations to include "indirect" conditioning practices, and require warranties to include a plain English anti-tying disclosure. These modifications will provide consumers with a more effective notice of their rights and the assurance that warranty coverage will not be denied improperly. (Get a sneak peek at this article now and read the full statement from the Int'l ITC in the December issue of Recharger Magazine).

For years, the cartridge aftermarket has tried to compete with the OEM dealer practice of claiming that the use of aftermarket cartridges will void a printer's warranty. This practice is prohibited by the Magnuson-Moss Act, and yet it remains pervasive in the marketplace. Recently, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission invited the automotive aftermarket to make suggestions as it reviews the Act. A group of automotive aftermarket associations, the Uniform Standards in Automotive Products Coalition (the "Coalition"), provided the FTC with simple suggestions that would make it harder for these tying arrangements to continue - either directly or indirectly.

The Coalition contacted the Int'l ITC and asked it to sign on to the Coalition's suggestions and provide supporting documentation, all near the end of the comment period. Int'l ITC Executive Director Tricia Judge prepared an extensive commentary in support of the revisions that would include two simple clarifications: amend Section 700.10(c) of Interpretations to include "indirect" conditioning practices, and require warranties to include a plain-English anti-tying disclosure. These modifications will provide consumers with a more effective notice of their rights and the assurance that warranty coverage will not be denied improperly. Read the full statement from the Int'l ITC in the December issue of Recharger.

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