From: Kjell Ericson <Kjell.Ericson_at_haxx.se>
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 17:21:01 +0100 (CET)

On Thu, 27 Nov 2003, Fred Maxwell wrote:

> > >does flashing my fmr void my warranty?
> >
> > yep, but then technically, so does running rockbox at all.
>
> Actually, that is a common misconception. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act...

In which countries can you use that act... :-)

> In order to legally refuse warranty service, the failure would have had to
> be caused by the aftermarket part or a modification.

Well, reflashing your Archos could be that kind of modification. At least if
the mp3-player stops functioning right after the reflash (you can't force
companies to re-reflash things just because users are playing around with
uncertified software).

Archos could claim that the scramble of the code is to prevent people from
using uncertified software.

> They could not legally refuse to fix your LCD under warranty just because
> you didn't use Archos brand batteries.

Not unless the batteries itself made the error. Then you will have to complain
to the battery manufacture.

But it is not likely that Rockbox will destroy the LCD or any other hardware,
and then you can claim the warranty.

> So, they would have to show that the firmware caused a failure.

Yep, that is true. And if so they can force you to pay their invistigation
(at least by swedish laws).

I don't think Archos has any hidden flashed functions that they can use for
debugging a unit, but if they have and you removed them then I would be quite
angry if I was an archos technichan.

> It's no different than a laptop computer. HP/Compaq can't refuse you
> warranty service just because you loaded software that you bought from a
> third party.

If the software destroyed the computer they can. You can't run around
flashing the bios with anything found on internet just for fun can you?

  // Kjelle (not worried about flashing my unit though)
Received on 2003-11-27