The U.S. Federal Trade Commission recently issued warnings to several technology companies regarding potential violations of federal law in their warranty or repair policies. Specifically, ASRock, Gigabyte, and Zotac were warned about possible violations of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which governs consumer warranties and is overseen by the FTC. These companies have been given thirty days to review their policies and ensure compliance.
The FTC expressed concerns about certain practices, such as placing stickers on laptops that warn consumers against opening or repairing the devices, as well as implying that products can only be serviced by authorized personnel. In the letters sent to Gigabyte and ASRock, specific issues with their warranty policies were highlighted, such as voiding warranties if manufacturing stickers are removed or if products are tampered with in any way.
The FTC also warned that denying warranty coverage based on these policies could result in legal action. In addition to the PC tech companies, similar letters were sent to sellers of air purifier equipment and a treadmill company. Asus, which has faced criticism for its warranty practices in the past, was not among the companies named in the warnings.
Mark, a seasoned technology journalist with decades of experience, has been covering tech topics for PCWorld and other publications. With over 3,500 articles to his name, Mark has a deep understanding of PC microprocessors, peripherals, and Microsoft Windows. His work has been featured in various publications, and he has received recognition for his contributions to the field.
