FTC Warns ASRock/ZOTAC/GIGABYTE Against Using "Warranty Void if Removed" Stickers to Prevent Users from Opening Hardware

Many electronic products come with "Warranty Void if Removed" stickers. The primary purpose of these stickers is to help manufacturers identify if a user has opened the hardware. Opening the hardware is often seen as voluntarily forfeiting warranty coverage.

Manufacturers use these stickers to determine if a product has been modified, damaged, or otherwise tampered with. It's understandable that manufacturers would not want to cover damages that are not due to the product's own faults, such as those caused by the user.

However, the use of "Warranty Void if Removed" stickers can be unreasonable, especially for computer hardware where users might need to open the device to install additional optional parts or components. Essentially, these stickers can hinder user operations.

Today, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sent letters to three computer hardware manufacturers, warning them against the use of such stickers on their products. The manufacturers in question are ASRock, ZOTAC, and GIGABYTE.

The FTC believes that the practices of these three manufacturers might violate the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (MMWA) in the United States, which outlines how businesses should set up written warranty information and policies.

These manufacturers have been given 30 days to make corrections. FTC staff have urged these companies to review their promotional and warranty materials to ensure they do not explicitly or implicitly imply that warranty coverage depends on the use of specific parts or services.

After 30 days, FTC staff will re-evaluate the manufacturers' websites to see if corrections have been made. Failure to amend their warranty terms could lead to legal action being taken by the FTC against the violating companies.