Submitted via IRC for SoyCow3941
The FTC says that if companies don't change their warranty practices, it may take 'legal action.'
The Federal Trade Commission put six companies on notice in early April for illegally telling customers that getting third-party repairs voids the warranty on their electronics. You've seen the stickers before and read the messages buried in end user license agreements. Plastered on the back of my PlayStation 4 is a little sticker that says "warranty void if removed." That's illegal.
Motherboard has obtained copies of the letters via a Freedom of Information Act request and has learned the names of the six companies that were warned. They are Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Hyundai, HTC, and computer hardware manufacturer ASUS.
[...] The FTC believes all six companies are violating the 1975 Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which states that no manufacturer charging more than $5 for a product may put repair restrictions on a device its offering a warranty on. Despite being illegal, many companies have such restrictions. Apple, noticeably absent in this round of of warning letters, often steers customers away from third-party repair services.
"Warranty language that implies to a consumer acting reasonably under the circumstances that warranty coverage requires the consumer to purchase an article or service identified by brand, trade or corporate name is similarly deceptive and prohibited," the FTC letters said.
[...] In three cases, the letters also specifically say that the use of warranty-void-if-removed stickers or "seals" break the law; language in the Playstation 4, HTC, and Asus warranties mention that the warranties are void if a seal is removed, something that the FTC mentioned it is "particularly concerned" about.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Thursday May 03 2018, @02:55AM (4 children)
I don't have the first clue how to find privately held hardware companies for Soggy Jobs [soggy.jobs]. Can you clue me in as to where I can look?
What would be Reelee Kewal would be a list of fabless semiconductor firms.
I personally prefer to work for small companies not because I have any faith in stock options but because I can walk right into the CEO's office to point out he's... ill-informed...
However many others do want to work for startups so they can play Wall Street Roullete.
Please reply elsewhere than in this story - either email incoming@soggy.jobs [mailto] or post in my latest diary [soylentnews.org].
I Shall Name My Firstborn After Y'all.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 3, Informative) by JoeMerchant on Thursday May 03 2018, @02:58AM (3 children)
Follow the fabs, who's taking over the big boys' chip foundries when they move on to the next generation? Then, who is doing design for the companies that use those.
I doubt you'll find many in the US. Maxim comes to mind, but they're hardly small.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Thursday May 03 2018, @05:37AM (2 children)
Googling for "list of fabs" did not yield insight but then I tried "list of wafer fabs".
BEHOLD:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_semiconductor_fabrication_plants [wikipedia.org]
I'll start by listing just each company's headquarters city then I'll link all each location where a fab might be found.
Ultimately I want to list *every* location for *every* tech company but that's not likely to happen until I have the cash for some minions.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 3, Funny) by turgid on Thursday May 03 2018, @04:25PM (1 child)
Don't Google "list of wafer biscuits."
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Friday May 04 2018, @02:46AM
I needed that laugh
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]