There are big ?no trespassing? signs affixed to most of our electronics.
If you own a gaming console, laptop, or computer, it?s likely you?ve seen one of these warnings in the form of a sticker placed over a screw or a seam: ?Warranty void if removed.?
In addition, big manufacturers such as Sony, Microsoft, and Apple explicitly note or imply in their official agreements that their year-long manufacturer warranties?which entitle you to a replacement or repair if your device is defective?are void if consumers attempt to repair their gadgets or take them to a third party repair professional.
What almost no one knows is that these stickers and clauses are illegal under a federal law passed in 1975 called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
To be clear, federal law says you can open your electronics without voiding the warranty, regardless of what the language of that warranty says.
This counterintuitive fact has far-reaching implications as manufacturers have stepped up their attempts to monopolize the device repair market.
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