SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Submitted via IRC for SoyCow9228
Those stickers on gadgets that say you'll void your warranty if they're removed? You've probably come to expect them whenever you purchase a new device. The FTC has just made clear, however, that those warranty notices are illegal when it fired off warning letters to six companies that market and sell automobiles, mobile devices and video game consoles in the US. It didn't mention which automakers and tech corporations they are, but since the list includes companies that make video game consoles, Sony and Microsoft could be two of them.
[...] Thomas B. Pahl, Acting Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement:
"Provisions that tie warranty coverage to the use of particular products or services harm both consumers who pay more for them as well as the small businesses who offer competing products and services."
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2018/04/11/ftc-warranty-warning/
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 12 2018, @03:43PM (6 children)
On that level, I can totally see electronics makers now using digital DRM as the new "Do not remove" tag. IE: Have it set up so that the system is able to detect when certain parts are removed, and to brick itself in the case it detects that. The Official Repair People of course will know how to repair that particular "damage" (Which bits need to be reset, etc after it's all closed up again.) On their side, the company will indicate that their warranty won't include particular "errors" unless an expensive extended warranty is purchased.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Spamalope on Thursday April 12 2018, @04:08PM (4 children)
Tesla is the car you're thinking of then. All parts with electricity are chipped, and the chips tied to a specific vehicle. Not only must you use OEM stratospherically priced parts, you must not used parts from a wreck and they can only be installed at a Tesla facility.
I bet they'd like to thank Apple for training their customers to accept this.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 12 2018, @04:18PM
Wow, didn't know that bit. This example is a great bit about why we need to regulate companies to protect consumers to at the very least have a full disclosure pamphlet about the limitations / requirements / privacy violations a product might have. Not to mention a "no leopard fighting" policy for customers looking for such info. Make it immediately available at least through a direct link printed on the packaging.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by DeathMonkey on Thursday April 12 2018, @05:24PM (2 children)
Well I'd like to see a citation for those allegations since a lot of that is explicitly prohibited by the FTC and there is a wealth of case-law saying the opposite as well.
(Score: 4, Informative) by DeathMonkey on Thursday April 12 2018, @05:28PM (1 child)
Additionally, here is a 3rd party repair shop [serviceking.com] a quick Googling found.
(Score: 2) by Spamalope on Friday April 13 2018, @12:49PM
Rich Rebuilds channel on You tube is a reasonable source for info.
If you're in a state with a right to repair law you can get (very expensively) the software to get the car going.
Once catch is that Tesla restricts parts access. Insurance companies label cars a salvage after minor damage because of that expense (dented fender/bumper cover for a totaled car). Tesla blocks any parts ordering or repair of cars that are so labeled. You can't even get the phone app. No safety recalls will be performed, you can't even buy the parts to repair a defect. (I'm not aware of any other manufacturer that does this)
(Score: 1) by Sulla on Thursday April 12 2018, @05:02PM
In all fairness it is a new patent/different subject because now its on a computer
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam